The Housing Committee and local charity At Home in Guernsey are working with the home to develop individual support plans to help suitable residents to find alternative accommodation.
The initiative is aimed at re-establishing St Julian’s House as the primary provider of accommodation for those at risk of homelessness.
St Julian’s currently houses 16 people – four female and 12 male. The average stay of residents is 18 months to two years and, despite the support of staff, many have not been able to progress into the private sector or social housing.
There are currently eight people who could live independently if suitable accommodation could be found for them, while the remainder would need some form of support package.
One resident left last week and another is expected to move on next week.
‘We understand it may take time for some residents to be ready to move on to more suitable accommodation, and we are committed to supporting them on a case-by-case basis to help them reach that point,’ said Housing Committee president Deputy Steve Williams.
‘Going forward, we want to avoid St Julian’s House being viewed as a long-term solution for some individuals, and so it is equally important that steps are taken to put the primary focus back on St Julian’s House as an emergency accommodation provider.’
The support plan for residents will depend on their individual circumstances and will include helping with skills development and employment support. Case managers in Employment & Social Security’s Work Support team will also be on hand to help residents build their skills, experience, and confidence to enter into meaningful and sustainable employment when ready.
Charlie Cox, director of At Home in Guernsey, said the charity was proud to be working alongside St Julian’s to help residents secure long-term, secure housing.
‘As part of our collective vision to end homelessness in Guernsey it is crucial that there are emergency beds available at St Julian’s,’ she said.
‘In order to do this, we need to establish strong move-on pathways for individuals that cater for a variety of circumstances.’
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