Giving the gift of a home this Christmas

Four former rough sleepers will be spending their first Christmas in safe, secure and modern accommodation, thanks to a council-led initiative to find homes for people who have slept on Dorset’s streets this year.

The new tenants, who have varied backgrounds – including working in the armed forces and in the building trade –  have all spent time sleeping rough in Weymouth.

With support from Julian House, The Lantern Trust and Dorset Council, they now have a key to their own front door and are receiving ongoing support so they can maintain their property and eventually move on to accommodation without support.

The property, which needed refurbishment and reconfiguration, was bought by a private landlord, with the aim of rehoming people who have been homeless.

It has shared kitchen and bathroom facilities and some outside space.

Gill Taylor, Housing and Health Cabinet Lead at Dorset Council said:

“A secure, clean and warm home can be the start someone needs to turn their life around.

“We’re pleased that as a partnership, we can offer people who were sleeping on the streets a chance to rebuild their lives and positively contribute to their communities.

“I’d like to thank everyone at Julian House, The Lantern Trust, the landlord and of course our own Housing officers and wider service, to deliver this project. The tenants seem to be thriving and this is down to the great work of our partnership and also the tenants themselves.

“I hope they all have a very happy Christmas in their new homes.”

 Lee, a tenant at the new property, said:

“When I found out I was going to be homeless; it was horrifying.”

“If I hadn’t had all the support I’d had, I’d probably still be homeless: out there.

“If the Lantern wasn’t there, or other people weren’t there, it would be a lonely old existence.

“They’ve helped me massively. The people were really nice. Everyone’s been great.”
“The support has been better than I thought it would be.

“Christmas is a hard one. It would be nice to be with the kids and people I care about. [But] the guys here are doing a dinner and I’m holding on to that really and going with the flow.”
Lee’s Wellbeing and Accommodation Support worker Laura Haensel (part of the Wellbeing And Sustainment Project (WASP)), at The Lantern Trust, has worked with Lee since he was referred to the organisation in the autumn. She said:

“I help and support a selection of clients to get them into sustainable accommodation and make sure they can maintain paying the bills, so they don’t get evicted and back on the streets again.

“Lee’s been on a real journey and it’s great to see him get to this point, where he is settling into his new home with his new housemates and finding his own path.

“There are no two days the same in this job and I’m grateful to be able to support people like Lee find a suitable place to call home.”

The process

Lee was picked up by Julian House’s outreach team, when they were doing their nightly walks.

The charity Julian House worked with Dorset Council to move Lee into the rough sleeper assessment bed unit, which provides temporary accommodation for people who are street-homeless.

The council own the unit but Julian house support individuals by getting them on to the housing register and sorting out their benefits, linking them into health support if needed and helping people understand what they need to do to maintain their accommodation. They then refer people on to the WASP team at The Lantern Trust.

When the WASP team are finding suitable accommodation for former rough sleepers, they have the options of using: Home Choice, which is the council’s housing register list, private lets and the council’s temporary accommodation portfolio.

If you see someone sleeping rough, contact Streetlink by visiting https://thestreetlink.org.uk/ or call Dorset Council’s Housing team on 01305 221000.

Lee’s story

Lee became homeless after a breakdown in his relationship. He had a bag with a pillow in it; a scarf, a woolly hat and a fleece. And also a toothbrush and a set of clothes: just basic things.

Lee didn’t have a sleeping bag for the first week of being homeless, which was tough, even in the summer.

He was given a bike when he was homeless, which he used to not only get around but he also tied his sleeping bag and belongings to, which was in a Perspex bag. “It was the only safe place I could think of to put my sleeping bag. When you are homeless, it’s finding somewhere to put all your things. I found myself reducing the number of things I had until I could fit everything into a small little rucksack.”

When asked how Lee spent his time when he was homeless, he said:

“You find yourself walking endlessly; round and round…then you settle down and you sit down.

“That’s when people probably recognise someone as being homeless. Because they’ve finished the walking part; you’ve gone past that stage and you just sit there.”

“The only time I really felt homeless – at night time, was when I got into my sleeping bag.

During the day, I found myself sitting in the library. “It was nice and peaceful and quiet. Just alone with my thoughts. I would reset myself and I had a free coffee there. I registered for Housing in there and things like that.

“I met some lovely people when I was walking. They helped me look at the positives of being homeless: seeing the sunrise, the moonrise; the sky.

“I used to appreciate them when I settled down for the night on the beach, near beach hut 77, which is gone now. I called it my million-pound view.

“You miss that when you’re in accommodation: you’re in a box. I found myself still going out to see the sun and moon rises. And street homeless people. And where the beach hut was.”

The day that changed Lee’s life

Lee went on to say: “I was in the Lantern, having a toastie and was asked if I’d like to volunteer and work at the Lantern.

“A woman came down and she took me to one side and said, “Come with me, you’re mine now!” Jean was from Julian House and took him to safe accommodation, where Lee stayed for a few weeks. "I had a roof and four walls. It was strange, but a nice feeling.”

Lantern work with people who have low-medium support needs and who have a history of rough sleeping. People with higher support needs go to the Bus Shelter Dorset or Shelter.

Watch Lee's personal journey here The gift of a home this Christmas - YouTube.