THE new provider of homeless services in the borough has helped 101 people access emergency accommodation in less than a week, it is claimed.

Forfutures, part of the ForViva Group, took over the contract from outgoing provider Foundation Enterprises North West (FENW) on April 1.

Questions have been raised as to whether the service was operationally ready with some service providers and charities saying they had received little communication.

But company bosses have stressed that they have hit the ground running and have already helped a large number of people.

Janet Lawton, Strategic Homeless Lead at forfutures, said: “All of the support previously provided to homeless people before forfutures took over the contract remains in place, with the service currently supporting more than 500 people aged 16 and over who are at risk of losing their home or who are homeless.

“Less than a week into the contract, we have helped people who would have been sleeping rough access emergency accommodation on 101 occasions, with our outreach team meeting with homeless people across Chester following referrals to the service.”

Forfutures resolved to keep FENW’s Richmond Court hostel in Boughton open for up to a month and has confirmed it can offer “short term accommodation for up to 12 people”. It has also emerged that direct access ‘safe seats’ will also remain available at the hostel for the time being.

Under the new service model, Chester’s 12 ‘direct access’ emergency beds will eventually be provided at Howley House in Blacon.

Forfutures says the property is “operational” but the company currently only has permission to provide seven beds at the site, located opposite Blacon Police Station. It has lodged a planning application with the council to boost capacity to up to 14.

It comes at a time when there are noticeably more rough sleepers and beggars in the city centre, many of whom appear to be in their teens or twenties.

On Thursday night (April 5), the outreach van for homeless and refugee charity Share gave food bags to 42 people. On Tuesday (April 3) it helped 36 people, 16 of whom said they would sleep rough that night.

City businessman Adam Dandy, who runs the charity, told The Standard that six of those people had indicated they would be willing to spend the night in an emergency ‘direct access’ bed.

However, when the volunteer team called forfutures hotline they were told that all emergency places had been taken. This was at around 8.20pm, he said.

Forfutures confirmed that its outreach team made contact with six people referred to the service by Share that night.

“The Outreach Team provided advice and support to all of those who engaged with the service,” it said. “Emergency accommodation had already been allocated for that evening.”

It added: “Emergency accommodation being full is not a new occurrence and forfutures is working with Cheshire West and Chester Council and local partners to ensure a range of options to increase the supply of emergency accommodation, while forfutures Outreach Team will continue to provide proactive support to help prevent homelessness.”

Under the new model, rough sleepers can no longer physically present at a building for emergency accommodation, as they did at Richmond Court.

Instead they must be referred by another provider, agency or the dedicated outreach team. They can self-refer by calling 0300 123 2442 or emailing hello@forfutures.co.uk

The company states: “Forfutures’ Outreach Team will work with local agencies and partners to identify people who are sleeping rough and engage with them on the most appropriate levels of support and accommodation – including access to short-term accommodation. As part of the service, forfutures will make travel arrangements for everybody who needs it to access temporary accommodation.”

Forfutures is also now responsible for housing support for the under and over 25s, as well as for the ‘floating support service’.

There will be four ‘advice and information hubs’ in Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford and Northwich, which will act as people’s first point of contact for emergency housing.

However, the facilities in Chester and Northwich, are not yet up and running with forfutures saying the city hub, on St John Street, will open “this month”.

Mrs Lawton added: “forfutures is committed to improving support for people facing homelessness in the borough, including investigating how we can increase the number of beds available for emergency accommodation. We are also opening four hubs offering advice and information to prevent people from becoming homeless.

“We wish to work with other services trying to help homeless people. We all share the same goal of improving lives and that can only be achieved by working together.”

Forfutures has also said it is “continuing to talk to partners in the local area to look at opportunities to work together on the best way to support those at risk of losing their home or who are homeless”.

It is also working with them “to co-ordinate a programme of day time activities at venues across the borough that will address social isolation, improve health and wellbeing and offer opportunities to learn new skills”.

More than 80 staff from FENW are now said to have transferred over to forfutures.

  • If you see anyone rough sleeping, call the hotline on 0300 123 2442 and the outreach team will help them.