Homeless Project Update December 2010

The following report has been contributed by Paul Monaghan of Highland Homeless Trust
 

The Direct Access Accommodation is proving to be a very valuable service, with staff from Highland Homeless Trust, Blythswood Care, and volunteers from the Inverness Churches, delivering an important service to vulnerable people.

Report to Inverness Presybytery, December 2010

The Direct Access Accommodation Project for the Homeless continues to offer refuge to those who would otherwise be rough sleeping in the city and church catering teams are being advised to cater for between 10 and 12 people.  There is good co-ordination between all the agencies, and evidence that the target group (those without recourse to benefits and therefore with no means to procuring accommodation for themselves) are being successfully catered for.  We are grateful to the Highland Homeless Trust, Blythswood Care and all the churches and community groups who are working together to keep people off the streets in this very cold weather.

2010-11 Homeless Project now underway

The Direct Access Accommodation Project for the Homeless opened on 1 November 2010. A total of 13 catering teams from local churches, plus 3 community teams and another 3 teams from the Red Cross, Highland Homeless Trust, Blythswood Care and the local community are staffing the project and providing meals. Funds have been pledge by Tulloch Homes, the Inverness Common Good Fund, the Hector Gordon Russell Trust, the Co-op Community Fund and the Gannochy Trust, as well as from individuals and churches in the area.

Plans for Winter 2010-11

Local Initiative to help Roughsleepers this coming Winter

The winter of 2010 will see a new and unique accommodation service being provided by local churches and charities to challenge roughsleeping in the Inverness area.

Congregations across Inverness have come together to provide accommodation for ‘roofless people’ throughout the Highland’s harshest winter months