Working together to reduce homelessness

Ongo and North Lincolnshire Council are working in partnership to reduce homelessness in North Lincolnshire.

The pilot project between the two organisations aims to provide temporary accommodation to single homeless people living in the area.

This is part of the wider government ‘everyone in’ campaign to protect homeless people from the coronavirus pandemic and will run initially until March 2021 in North Lincolnshire. It is hoped, if successful the project may be extended for a further 12 months.

Funding has been secured by North Lincolnshire Council, with part of this funding being offered to Ongo to house homeless people living on the streets in North Lincolnshire in one bedroom flats across the region. The remainder of this funding will be spent by the local authority on cold weather provisions.

The package of support offered by Ongo will include:

– Providing six, one bedroom fully furnished flats

– They will be newly decorated with curtains and carpeted throughout

– Intensive support for each client to help them successfully sustain their tenancy

– Counselling and wellbeing service

Helen Wright, Support Manager for Ongo, said: “We run a similar service to support homeless people living in the Doncaster area, so it makes perfect sense for us to team up with North Lincolnshire Council on this pilot project. We have the expertise and resources to be able to support people in North Lincolnshire to help them get back on their feet.

“We’re really pleased to be able to work in partnership to give people a place to live and any additional support they may need. We’re confident that this service will really make a difference in our local communities.”

This will be a referral service, with North Lincolnshire Council putting clients forward to receive the support and accommodation from Ongo.

If you are homeless or would like to find out more about the service, get in touch with North Lincolnshire Council, or visit www.northlincs.gov.uk.

Left to right: Rob Waltham of NLC, Helen Wright of Ongo, Holly Mumby-Croft, MP.