Edinburgh & Lothians
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Out of the Cold
Winners of the Edinburgh & Lothians vote!
Streetwork’s Out of the Cold project is targeted at over 50s who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Providing an outreach, support and advice service for people in the Edinburgh area, their primary aim is to help people help themselves. They will also provide preventative help for those who are in inappropriate housing and at risk of becoming homeless.
Homeless people’s problems in the 50 plus group are often compounded by physical and mental health problems, the loss of friends and family, careers and confidence. This can prevent them from seeking the help available. They can often miss out on services and hostel accommodation as few, if any, are targeted at that age group and the voices of the over 50s often go unheard. Streetwork will work in partnership with other agencies to help the over 50s gain and sustain secure tenancies.
Providing a service that runs 365 nights a year, Streetwork actively seek out the most vulnerable and most needy, bringing practical help and advice to make them safer. One to one support will benefit over 50s by helping them make positive changes to their lifestyle in a variety of ways. These include improving general health and wellbeing, addressing substance abuse problems, criminal behaviour, financial stability, employability as well as social networks.
Over 3 years the scheme will give over 50s access to a variety of services and a longer term aim is to influence service providers to provide specific accommodation for the age group.
What the group says:
Why should people vote for you?
Out of the Cold is a unique service providing advice and support to prevent homelessness of older people. We will provide advice to prevent loss of home and on-the-street crisis intervention to help people gain emergency accommodation. We will ensure people have access to health services, benefits, training, employment and other support services through intensive independent living support. Voting for us would make a difference to the lives of one hundred vulnerable older people each year giving them homes, better health and dignity.
What will you spend the money on?
The money would enable us to employ two specialist workers who would be dedicated to providing advice and support to older people. This would involve street based sessions all year round to target older people who become street homeless, phone and office based advice and advocacy, and ongoing one to one support visits.
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