"HOMELESSNESS is a community issue and we have to work together as a community to resolve it."

Richard Beacham, the council's Cllr Richard Beacham, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration & Growth, admits that the issue isn't resolved - neither nationally nor in our city.

But four months after the "one stop shop" at Hamilton House in Chester - the assessment hub developed with government funding under the Rapid Rehousing Pathway - it feels like more of the pieces of the jigsaw are connecting than ever before.

One of those being supported by the team at Hamilton House, Jonathan Thurwell, believes he would not be here but for the support he has received from one of the 'Navigators' at Hamilton House.

"I'd be dead," he says. "I honestly believe that."

After being hospitalised for alcohol-related issues, where he was "coughing up black blood" he was approached by one of the Navigators, one of three people based at Hamilton House who support rough sleepers from their first contact with services, having made his bed in the doorway of Primark for three months.

He told her that he feared being robbed yet again when he received money on Thursday - by Wednesday he was in one of the temporary beds at Hamilton House with a safe place to store his money and belongings.

Jonathan now has a roof over his head, is in regular contact with Hamilton House, and attends AA meetings.

Chester and District Standard:

Jonathan Thurwell

It is getting people through the door this way - or in whatever way suits an individual who has found themselves on the streets - that is the aim of Hamilton House. From there, the individual is able to take a break from often chaotic circumstances and are helped to access the services that will help them move away from a life on the streets - if that's what they want - whether they are health, mental health or drug and alcohol dependency services.

Hamilton House opened on April 1 this year and provides a safe emergency environment away from the street which is open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to anyone who presents and is identified as already rough sleeping. Any rough sleeper can be referred to or visit Hamilton House where they can have access to shower and toilet facilities, food and drink, clean clothes and help and advice. The hub provides a washing machine and dryer as well as a kitchen to prepare and cook food. Storage space for belongings is also available which helps to reduce the number of left belongings in doorways in Chester city centre.

A small number of rough sleepers are offered a short stay in a bed (two are in private pods) giving staff more time to look at the best support and accommodation for that individual. The main purpose of the hub is to interview and assess individuals so that on leaving the hub they have a pathway to accommodation which could include supported housing, the private rented sector, social housing or staying with family or friends.

Chester and District Standard:

The hub provides plenty of space for experts to carry out assessments to help homeless people

The hub is an integral part of the Council’s structured pathway of housing and support. The council recognises the invaluable help of a wide number of charities, voluntary groups, faith groups, and local businesses, who make the services available for homeless people in Chester even better.

The team and representatives of partner agencies admit that the problem is not solved - but progress has been made in the past four months and there are several initiatives due to be implemented before the first anniversary of the strategy, including the recruitment of specialist substance misuse and mental health workers.

The council is committed to ending rough sleeping. The latest picture of homelessness in Cheshire West and Chester are that there were 34 rough sleepers identified in May, which had reduced to 29 by last month (June).

Of these 24 were male and five female, 12 are not known to have slept rough in Cheshire West and Chester prior to June 2019. The number of people who are known to have regularly slept rough for at least 6 consecutive months is 8 and work continues to try and engage with these individuals to move them away from the streets.

Every rough sleeper identified is referred to Hamilton House but a small minority are still choosing to live a street lifestyle and not engage with services.

It is to these people that the team are trying to get the message to - that there is help available if and when they need it.

"We are the first door. The first conversation," said case manager John Marshland, and the aim is then to "get them where they need to be".

There are several ways people can be encouraged to come through the door - and there they can find a safe and supportive space to get their bearings.

Cllr Beacham said Hamilton House "provides a 72 hour stop gap" where an individual can sit down in a safe environment, have a cup of tea, and figure out where to go next.

The situation for the team is ever-changing - 75 per cent of the people the team are meeting are different from those they were engaging with just three months ago.

One of the new roles at the heart of the work being done at Hamilton House is that of the Navigator.

There are three Navigators based at the hub. They support rough sleepers from their first contact with services through to settled accommodation. They are assigned to rough sleepers who would benefit from this kind of tailored support and focus not just on finding a housing solution but supporting the individual in their recovery to find employment, undertake training, develop budgeting skills, and be better equipped to maintain their accommodation and independence and avoid returning to the street.

There are many agencies working in partnership with the council and Forfutures at Hamilton House, including St Werburgh's Medical Practice, New Leaf, Westminster Drug Project, the Probation Service, Police, and the Outside In group, formed to coordinate voluntary, public and business groups working with the homeless.

An Outside In spokesman said: "Outside In have for some time been supporting, challenging and advising CWaC and Forfutures on the implementation of key services to our homeless men and women in the city. It is our considered view that some things have definitely improved and some people have moved on; however we are aware that there is still a lot to be done. We will continue to work with and challenge the effectiveness of these services, to ensure a reduction in homelessness across the Cheshire West and Chester area.

"We will continue to work with Forfutures on how best to improve services and in particular we will continue to develop our working groups, which cover Advocacy, SWEP, our Alternative Giving Campaign which is intended to give the public a real choice when giving to support the homeless, Mental Health and Meaningful Activities (provided by Soul Kitchen, Share and others). Outside In's recent support for our beneficiaries to build and enter a wonderful raft in the Chester Raft Race was a demonstration of just how well our support can help statutory and commissioned services reach those in need and we know that of the 8 or so beneficiaries who helped, many are supported within Hamilton House and other commissioned service locations.

"It has to be remembered that there are still a number of people in the city centre who do not want any help at the moment. We need to get out in particular the message that supporting poor mental health and addictions are key to success with our beneficiaries and that Outside In are committed to obtaining support for these challenges, hand-in-hand with our commissioned and statutory services."

Hamilton House does not just want to communicate with rough sleepers - the team is desperate for volunteers who can donate their time to support the work being done.

Anyone registering an interest now could be ready to help when the services are most needed during the winter months.

Outcomes April to June 2019

Number of visits (including repeat visits) to the hub (which includes those being assessed, GP appointments, visits for food, drinks, showers, workshops, hairdresser etc): 1437

Number of people referred to or offered a stay in the hub: 90

Number of different people staying at least one night in the hub: 33

Number of nightly bed spaces occupied (could be the same person on different nights): 278

Number of positive outcomes with accommodation: 26

Number of reconnections to other areas: 6

Number returning to rough sleeping: 1

Number of individuals provided with a Navigator service: 35

Things planned for the next nine months

Publish the Pathway document

Continue to work with partners to develop the pathway

Recruit specialist workers in substance misuse and mental health

Develop the Housing First model

Develop a housing management service with additional MHCLG money