CDHT"s Living Plus helps youngsters find their feet
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) has launched Living Plus, a new scheme aimed to get young people back on their feet and part of a community again.
Aimed at 16 to 25 year-olds, the Living Plus scheme is available at a number of locations across Chester. It is for single people or a single person plus one child or some couples. So far there are nine units and more will become available.
One or two bed furnished flats will be ready to move tenants into, who have previously been threatened with homelessness. Tenants sign up for an 18 month period to include rent and repayments for the furniture, after which time the service charge is removed and there is then an option to purchase the furniture. Tenants gain a ready-made up to the minute home and must agree to undertake “Floating Support” with a mentor for this period. The scheme is designed for a young person, someone with the constant threat of homelessness, and it aims to get them on their feet and back into the community. The ethos of this service, provided by the Trust is to provide support to encourage the individual to secure employment, further education and gain life skills for them to fulfil their own ambitions and abilities.
Sarah McGrady, from Housing Options at CDHT, said: “A lot of new, younger tenants fail because they don”t adjust their priorities in life when they take on more financial responsibilities. A night out on the town is more tempting than their carpet repayment.”
Sharon Morris, Manager of Homelessness & the Housing Options Team at CDHT, added: “Living Plus is possible because of the involvement of all the support services across Chester. We identify vacant housing which can be fully refurbished, redecorated and furnished successfully for the scheme. We then identify suitable tenants, usually referred to us and match them together so that everyone is happy. One young lady came to us from Bridge Foyer in Tower Road, an Arena Housing facility. Now with support from the Living Plus scheme she is looking forward to starting voluntary work at the Mulberry Centre providing care for less able youngsters. It would be great if we could train young residents to help us redecorate the properties too.”
Andrew Price, a Living Plus tenant since May this year, said:
“The Living Plus scheme has helped me get on my feet. Floating support is also provided through CDHT and I engage with this service on a regular basis. The scheme is ideal for young people like myself and has helped me to live independently.”
More information from Sarah McGrady Housing Options staff - 0808 100 7701 s.mcgrady@cdht.org
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Notes to editors for more information and photos please visit: http://www.marketingprojects.co.uk/clientpo/chester-district-housing-trust
Chester & District Housing Trust (CDHT) was created in November 2000 to acquire the housing stock of Chester District Council and now owns and manages over 6,200 properties in and around Chester, employing 285 staff. The Trust”s homes fall in to six neighbourhoods – Blacon North; Blacon South; Chester City Area; The Rurals; Lache and Handbridge; Upton, Hoole, Newton and Plas Newton.
CDHT provides a range of services to tenants and residents in Chester and surrounding areas. These include ChesterCare, a telecare alarm service for CDHT tenants, other association tenants and private customers and the management of the specially designated Community Intervention Budget. This improves facilities and allows changes, which are felt by tenants to be vital to their community. CDHT also manages the housing waiting list and homelessness agency service on behalf of Chester City Council.
Current projects for CDHT include the £12million regeneration of the Treborth Road area of Chester, to include 200 new homes for rent, sale and shared ownership, as well as a village green and wildlife habitats. The Trust recently hosted a visit from Housing Minister, Caroline Flint MP.
For more details please visit: www.cdht.net Press Contacts: Phil Brotherhood E: phil@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07884 493370 Jane Harrad-Roberts E: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk M: 07785 395705
T: 01244 330000 W: www.marketingprojects.co.uk also www.ziggurat.co.uk
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