Supported Housing scheme re-opens
Homeless people and couples in Gloucester now have a brand new chance of living independent lives with the reopening of a housing project in Matson.
Taylor House provides supported accommodation for more than 30 homeless people and has just had a complete ‘makeover’ costing £675,000.
City Council housing officers helped secure £600,000 from the Homes and Communities Agency with the rest coming from the Elim Housing Association.
There are now individual and cluster flats with shared TV lounge, kitchen and bathrooms. There is also a communal meeting/social room, a fully equipped training room, office space for support staff and laundry facilities.
The improvements will make it easier to tailor individual programmes to meet the needs of each resident coupled with ‘life skills’ linked to budgeting, healthy living, cookery, responsibility and moving on.
The maximum length of stay is two years and our measure of success is that over three quarters of our residents move into independent, permanent accommodation.
Councillor Andrew Gravells, deputy leader of the city council with responsibility for housing and health, commented: “ Facilities such as this which can cater for individuals as well as couples are vitally important. The refurbishment will make a massive difference to the way in which support can be offered. I am really pleased that city council staff have been able to help secure the funding which made it happen.”
Alistair Allender, Elim Housing’s chief executive, said: “ The transformation of Taylor House has been remarkable and the ‘new’ building is a credit to all those involved. We can now provide more up to date and comfortable accommodation for all our residents.”