Network Homes signs further agreement to house homeless young people in London
Network Homes and New Horizon Youth Centre have announced an expansion to their joint Project Vista offering two further shared accommodation flats to homeless young people. This follows two already established flats and brings the total number of young people who can benefit from these homes to 20.
New Horizon Youth Centre provides holistic support to 16-25 year-olds across London who have been made homeless, often due to family breakdown or domestic abuse. Network Homes partnered with the charity last year to provide accommodation for those homeless young people on low wages or ready to move into employment through New Horizon Youth Centre’s Employment, Education and Training Programme.
Project Vista rooms are managed by and allocated to young people by the charity and individuals are able to live in the property for one year. New Horizon Youth Centre supports residents in the accommodation and helps them move on to private rented sector when the year is over. The stability of a home gives most sufficient time for their employment situation to improve whilst also allowing them to save money for a deposit and develop independent living skills.
The decision to expand Project Vista follows a successful first phase which saw all the residents able to either take on extra work hours, accept promotions, or to maintain or take jobs they would otherwise have lost due to not having permanent place to live.
Helen Evans, Chief Executive, Network Homes, said:
“We are excited to be expanding our partnership with the New Horizon Youth Centre. We are committed to our social purpose and helping those who are affected by the housing crisis and it’s great to be able to play our part in providing homes for those in need.”
New Horizon Youth Centre CEO Shelagh O’Connor, said:
“The partnership between New Horizon Youth Centre and Network Homes is an exciting and innovative model providing suitable accommodation and targeted support for young people in housing need. Project Vista further enables New Horizon Youth Centre to achieve our mission of giving young people the stable accommodation they need to start to build a positive future through employment, work opportunities or study.”
One of the first young people to be housed described her family home as “dysfunctional and overcrowded… with lots of tension and arguments.” Speaking of her new home she said: “The accommodation is lovely, me and my housemates are like a little family. I feel like I can enjoy my life.”
Notes to Editors:
New Horizon Youth Centre was founded by Lord Longford to address the needs of vulnerable and homeless young people in London. The organisation has developed and expanded into outreach and day centre provision and celebrates its 50th year in 2017. It now leads the youth homelessness commission for London funded by London Councils, supporting over 5,000 young people across each of the 33 boroughs per year, leading a partnership with Depaul UK, Alone in London, Stonewall Housing, Albert Kennedy Trust and Galop. Shelter has recently joined the partnership in a new endeavour.
Jon Snow, C4 newsreader and journalist, worked at the centre in the 1970s and following many years as Chair became Patron of the centre in February 2016, with Professor Nick Hardwick (ex-Inspector of Prisons/CEO of Centrepoint/IPCA and currently Chair of the Parole Board) taking over as Chair.
https://nhyouthcentre.org.uk/news/2017/04/13/project-vista-expansion
