A residential housing project is helping to address homelessness in Hackney by providing residents with the services to help them progress to independent housing.
The Clapton Common Project, which opened in October, is a collaboration between Victoria-based homelessness charity, Thames Reach, and Hackney Council.
56 Hackney residents have been seen sleeping rough between April-June 2021, according to the Chain Quarterly report. Thames Reach emphasises that homelessness has been aggravated by the lifting of the eviction ban and the Universal Credit cuts.
The scheme offers support in areas such as employment, immigration and access to health services, as well as homes. The project can house twelve residents under the age of 35, including two spaces for those unable to access government aid, while they resolve their immigration status. Residents are housed for around nine months before moving on.
As an example of the project’s work, it is currently helping a 27-year-old man who has been staying at the residential property for two months. He is receiving support with his immigration papers, his qualifications and his application for housing benefits.
A representative from Thames Reach said: “We identify that suitable accommodation can come in different forms to support different needs, so we are happy to be working with councils and organisations to make coming off the streets as comfortable and supportive as possible.”
