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Preventing homelessness and helping people forced to sleep rough

10/10/2024

We recognise how important a home is. It’s a stable foundation on which you can build a happy and healthy life.
That’s why throughout the year we’re working hard with some of our residents to ensure they can sustain their tenancies. Alongside this we are working with homelessness organisations to help more local people find homes.

On World Homeless Day you can find out more about what we’re doing to reduce homelessness in and around Poplar and Bow.

Helping residents to sustain tenancies

Picture of Abisola in a red jumper in chrisp street market in east london.

Abisola Ashade is our Rents and Income Manager. She recognises the importance for staff to build relationships with residents “so they know who we are.”

“Here at Poplar HARCA we have an early interventions ethos. This means that we try to spot any problems that may come up early, and work with key partners to ensure that residents get help when it’s needed. This requires tenants to feel comfortable contacting us when they’re having troubles – and means we have to build trust.”

Abisola’s message to residents who may be struggling was: “If you have any problems, you can come to us and talk about what the problem is… My colleagues are on the frontline speaking to tenants and finding out what their problems are and helping them if they need it. We signpost to where you can get help and advice and liaise with social workers. We work with vulnerable tenants also. We work with the Safeguarding team to make sure that whoever we identify as needing help gets the help they need.”

One resident, who was facing financial difficulties, emailed us recently to say thank you to Shahjahan, who works in Abisola’s team.

He said: “I would like to commend your colleague, Shahjahan, for his assistance and advice regarding the new Universal Credit migration system. His understanding and clear communication alleviated my confusion and stress about potential arrears and debt.”

Last year, with the cost of living rising, we also pulled together an online support page to point you in the right direction for whatever help and advice you might need.

If you are having any financial difficulties, please contact us

Working with homelessness organisations

Our partnership with Spitalfields Crypt Trust’s Housing First programme enables us to work with people who have experienced long term homelessness. For those who have been forced into homelessness, it can be very difficult to be approved for a rented home, as there are certain conditions that need to be met. But Housing First provides tenancies without restrictions.

We work with them to provide vacant homes. And Housing First supports local people through the tenancy process, alongside providing further help– including support for physical and mental health needs, benefits and so on.

Since the Housing First programme was established in October 2020, 86% of their residents have maintained their tenancies, many for the first time in their adult lives.

We have provided homes to 25 people. Some of these people have now been in their homes for five years.

We’ve also provided homes for five local people through our connection with St Mungo’s. They are an amazing charity working to end homelessness and work with people who are facing homelessness, have mental health vulnerabilities or are dealing with substance misuse.

GrowTH are a local organisation – they work with people in Tower Hamlets who may have recently fallen on hard times, due to a job loss, or mental health issues. They came to us as they were struggling to find affordable homes for people due to rising rent prices. We were able to help, and provided housing for four people to live in.

Our partnerships with these organisations provide a helping hand to people in Tower Hamlets. Now that these people have homes, they have a foundation on which they can build happy and healthy futures.

What can you do?

  • If you spot someone sleeping rough, contact Streetlink. They run outreach teams to connect people with services that can help.
  • If you’re having money troubles please give us a ring on 0800 035 1991. We’ll chat with you about setting up a payment plan you can afford. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner we can help you.