LDHAS - Homeless Hub

Aim

Relocation of our homeless charity to a state-of-the-art building to provide in-depth support and grow our Homeless Hub network of services.

Homeless Hub and Relocation!

LDHAS provides daily essentials (e.g. free food, hygiene products, clothing, and laundry) and in-depth casework for the homeless and vulnerably housed; furthermore, LDHAS houses an integrated network of partner agencies to ensure holistic and collaborative casework. 

The number of people in need of our support is growing and LDHAS must relocate to a new site in 2024. For over 30 years, LDHAS has operated from a portacabin on land rented from the city council; due to the age of our cabin, and the council's plans to redevelop the area, relocation is essential!

Luckily, LDHAS has been able to purchase an office and has spent 2023 reconstructing and reconfiguring the site to include: shower and hygiene facilities; a commercial kitchen; a medical room; and multiple offices for one-to-one support. However, this construction work needs funding to ensure LDHAS can continue to provide support and grow our Hub, hence the need for donations to ensure no shortfall damages our charity.

What Does LDHAS Do?

There is no one type of homeless person, someone may: be vulnerably housed; have been placed in emergency accommodation; or sleep on the street without a roof over their heads. Centre-users range in age, race, gender, and level of mental/physical need. The service is designed to support people into accommodation and provide a person-centred approach that builds on individuals’ strengths whilst addressing their most pressing, immediate needs.

Whatever you can spare will help those suffering homelessness and extreme poverty access:

• Mental health support
• Breakfasts and lunches
• Clothing
• Showers and hygiene products
• Laundry
• IT and banking facilities
• Assistance with substance abuse and addiction
• Nurses and Hepatitis C treatments

The cost of living

As the cost of living crisis and rising prices put immense pressure on people, many adults and families have become financially vulnerable, and the number of those at risk continues to grow.

Those with low wages/salaries (or no employment at all) have gone from “struggling to get by” to “not getting by” and LDHAS is seeing an increase in daily attendance of clients and in the number of phone calls from people seeking advice or support.

During this uncertain winter, LDHAS is seeking funds from those fortunate enough to spare donations. It is essential we provide a friendly, warm, and safe environment, free of judgment, for vulnerable people and those whose lives are in crisis, and this is only possible with the generous contributions of donors.

Who are our clients?

The majority of clients have complex needs, usually the result of distressing experiences they have suffered or poor mental health; as a result, our most requested forms of floating support are “mental health/emotional support” followed by “housing advice”. LDHAS staff provide more than support with tenancies; they represent a holistic network of support.

Research shows that homeless people face problems far beyond the lack of a suitable home; many of our clients face social disadvantages with reduced access to both public and private services (including health care, education, and banking facilities). Additionally, our clients are at an increased risk of suffering from violence and abuse, face general rejection and discrimination, and are seen as unsuitable for employment.

Neighbourhoods within the district rank amongst the most deprived areas in the UK on the “Indices of Deprivation”. For example, Lancaster 009C LSOA (i.e. neighbourhood code) ranks #33 out of 32,844 LSOAs in England, where 1 is the most deprived.

How do we operate?

LDHAS operates a non-appointment policy, from Monday to Friday, providing a wide range of facilities and services at our base in Lancaster. Anyone who comes through our doors can access services to meet their immediate needs, ranging from hot food to receiving support from staff on a one-to-one basis. 

We utilise a triage approach, wherein all clients are assessed and an initial plan is put into place, beginning with meeting the most pressing needs. The plan includes housing, health and social care, finances, and work and educational issues, with planned actions and outcomes.

Partner agencies

A core principle of our casework is the integration of partner agencies and their services; LDHAS is a Homeless Hub, providing a wide range of services with the help of many third sector agencies and health/wellbeing services. 

A crucial long-term goal is to transform the LDHAS centre into an even larger Homeless Hub, with a particular focus on mental and physical health.

The third sector is an ever-changing scene; organisations expand or shrink depending on their funding or governance and many struggle to meet the demands of our clientele. A “one-stop-shop”, based in our new building, allows multiple agencies to carry out their work in a safe and organised site. This reduces their overheads, allowing for better-funded services, and minimises missed appointments. Additionally, multiple agencies in a single location makes sharing information and data with partners easier and more in-depth, and allows us to quickly refer clients on to specialists should they need help with physical and mental health checks, abuse and victim support, or specialist counselling.

A typical day for a client can help illustrate the benefit of our Homeless Hub. 

For example:

1. a client may come to our centre, have food and a shower, and then meet with our caseworker for emotional support and housing advice and to address their support package;
2. the client will then be told to meet with the Citizens Advice Bureau worker in the room down the hall to understand their legal rights as a homeless person in the UK in light of their casework session;
3. they will then meet with the Council-appointed Support Officer in another office, to be referred to council or private accommodation with our casework’s insight;
4. our caseworker then updates the client’s package to reflect these activities.

Another example:

1. a client comes to our centre, meets with our Support Worker, who directs them to the Hepatitis C worker in the building for testing and advice;
2. the client then meets with the nurse for wound dressing to reduce risk of infection;
3. the client then has an appointment with their Inspire officer for substance abuse support;
4. the nurse then meets with the client and our Support Worker to figure out what the next steps for improving their safety will be.

As LDHAS relocates to our larger premises, and new office rooms are constructed, even more partner agencies will be integrated at any one time, another reason relocation is seen as essential

LANCASTER & DISTRICT HOMELESS ACTION SERVICE LIMITED
Charity number: 1093016
Homeless & Housing Centre,
Edward Street,
Lancaster,
LA1 1QH

Phone: 01524842008

This project successfully funded on 21st December 2023