SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
METHODIST ACTION NORTH WEST LTD
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES –
GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
EHCGP London Event, 19th February 2015
Stephen Hetherington BA(Hons) DipArch MArch RIBA
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
Methodist Action North West
Founded in 2011 as a development of a homeless shelter which had existed
since 1982 in the basement of Central Methodist Church, Preston.
We are dedicated to helping people who are struggling against
homelessness, poverty, lack of opportunities and exclusion through a suite of
mutually supportive, locally based projects.
Last year’s statistics were:
Fox Street Community – accommodation & support for 68 homeless men
Floating Support & Outreach Support Teams – Support for over 220 single
people and families to sustain their tenancies & live independently
A Place to Live - in partnership with the local authority, we housed 266
people in the private rented sector for those in the greatest housing need
WH A T D OWE D O ?
Portland Street – provided accommodation
& support for 30 homeless men
No Second Night Out – provided emergency
accommodation to 98 people
Cedar House Delivered free counselling &
advice to 340 clients on low or no income
Blackpool Food Partnership – Distributed
2260 food parcels a forum for advice &
support with Blackpool City Council
Empty Homes Project – restored over 100
properties and housed a minimum of 200
people through A Place to Live
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
Housing Provision
e.g.
A Place to Live
Specialist Provision
e.g.
Fox Street
Tenancy Support
e.g.
Outreach
Advocacy & Consultancy
e.g.
Community Cohesion
Training & Employment
Finance & Debt
Repairs & Adaptation
e.g.
Empty Homes
Health & Wellbeing
e.g.
Cedar House
H O W D O
WE D O I T ?
STRUCTURE
• Housing Provision at Core
• ‘Key’ Services support the Core and each other
• Services can vary to suit need or agenda
• Housing provision has
income potential
• Services more likely
to be grant funded
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
PARTNERSHIPS
H O W D O
WE D O I T ?
Housing Provision
e.g.
A Place to Live
Specialist Provision
e.g.
Fox Street
Tenancy Support
e.g.
Outreach
Advocacy & Consultancy
e.g.
Church Work
Training & Employment
Finance & Debt
Repairs & Adaptation
e.g.
Empty Homes
Health & Wellbeing
e.g.
Cedar House
PARTNERSHIPS
• Themed services allow us toeasily partner with others
• Work can be -
• Localised
• Targeted
• Flexible
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
THE EMPTY HOMES PROGRAMME
EHCGP – granted £500,000
EPCGP – granted £750,000
The simple & flexible procedures have allowed us to –
Take a proactive approach to the problem
Respond in a flexible & strategic way to each property
Build our existing housing project to create affordable,
high quality accommodation which encourages long
term, sustainable tenancies
Build our relationships with Local Authorities, local
businesses and the local community
The Programme has allowed us to step in, where the 22 local RP’s did not, using Collaboration & Empowerment
WH A T D I D
WE D O ?
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
• Property Investment
• Financial Investment
• Safety Checks
• Building Works
• Maintenance
• Empty Homes
• Housing Options
• Technical Services
• Finance Control
• Property Services
• Tenant Services
• Support Services
MANWLocal
Authority
Building Owner
Contractor
THE EMPTY HOMES PROGRAMME - COLLABORATIONWH A T D I D
WE D O ?
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T D I D
WE D O ?THE EMPTY HOMES PROGRAMME – EMPOWERMENT
There is no unique solution to the problem of empty homes – one size definitely does not fit all
The Programme has allowed us to use & develop –
Contacts & Communication
Cooperation & Innovation
Funding & Sustainability
The community basis for the Programme has ensured our
success through the strength in local knowledge, local
experiences, local priorities, local resources & local needs
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
E G A N
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
4 x 1 bed & 3 x 2 bed flats
1 x 1 bed & 2 x 2 bed houses
9 years empty
£64,000 empty homes contribution
£142,000 owner contribution
LHA affordable rental rate
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
E G A N
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
E G A N
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
E G A N
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
1 x 1 bed & 14 x 2 bed houses
9 years empty
£148,000 empty homes contribution
£217,000 owner contribution
LHA affordable rental rate
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
C U N L I F F E
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
C U N L I F F E
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
C U N L I F F E
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
C U N L I F F E
S T R E E T ,
P R E S T O N
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
WH A T
H A VE
WE D O N E ?
T H E
T E A M
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
£500,000 GRANT
We aim to deliver 45 properties & 112 bedrooms
Agreed delivery was 44 properties and 110 bedrooms
Our Value for Money figure is £446 against the DCLG
National Average maximum expectation of £1,100
£750,000 GRANT
We aim to deliver 62 properties and 105 bedrooms
Agreed delivery was 38 properties and 105 bedrooms
Our Value for Money figure is £613 for residential and
£874 for commercial against the DCLG National
Average maximum expectation of £1,100 and £1,300
respectively
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
Environmental improvements & community benefits
£455,000 of private investment into the local economy
Employment opportunities for local businesses
KEY OBJECTIVE FOR METHODIST ACTION NW
By the programme end we will have housed at least
217 people across Preston, South Ribble & Lancaster,
who would otherwise be without an affordable home
H O W D I D
WE D O ?
SEIZING NEW OPPORTUNITIES – GROWING A SOCIAL LETTINGS AGENCY
T H A N K
Y O U … . .Places need people to live in them and
people need A Place to Live…
Contact details
Stephen Hetherington – Chief Operating OfficerT: 01772 751000