Minister for the Third Sector Angela Smith sees how St Mungo’s is tackling homelessness, health and employment under one roof
15 January 2010
Minister for the Third Sector Angela Smith heard first hand how important direct access to health and employment services can be for homeless people when she visited a St Mungo's hostel in Hackney this Thursday, 14 January.
The St Mungo's hostel in Mare Street houses 60 residents, aged between 18 and 65, in 45 en-suite rooms and 15 self-contained studio flats. Previously a dormitory-style hostel for 150 people with communal bathrooms, the hostel was re-opened last year after refurbishment.
Now it provides not only accommodation but links in to health services as well as specific activities, training and employment opportunities - crucial for helping residents recover from homelessness long term.
The Minister heard from residents and staff about:
- LifeWorks - St Mungo's pioneering psychotherapy service, funded through the Cabinet Office's ACE programme,which works with people with mental health, alcohol and drug problems
- St Mungo's Palliative Care Service - launched last year with Marie Curie Cancer Care, this helps homeless people with 'end of life' care, in hospital and within hostels
- Pathways to Employment - a St Mungo's funded activities, training, education and employment programme, which at Mare Street offers literacy and numeracy courses, painting and decorating skills training and activities including arts, music and lifeskills such as cooking
She met a number of residents including 46 year old Oscar, who recently started the painting and decorating course after a series of temporary jobs. "I'm really enjoying it and learning a lot," he said.
Angela Smith said: ""I've been really impressed with the services that St Mungo's provide. Its staff work tirelessly to help homeless people get off the streets and stay off the street.
"The direct access to health and employment services I have seen today is vital for their residents. St Mungo's innovative approach is not only providing accommodation, but also linking it to health services, training and employment opportunities which is clearly crucial for helping residents recover from homelessness in the long term."
Mike McCall, Executive Director of Operations at St Mungo's, said: "Homeless people are some of the most excluded within our society. We welcomed this opportunity to show the Minister some of our most innovative health and employment services, which we know can really make a difference to people's lives.
"It is vital that homelessness is not seen just as a housing issue. Our aim is for people to move on to a decent home and a sustainable job - with the good health to make the most of their potential."
Hackney Council works in partnership with St Mungo's and other third sector organisations to help improve the lives of residents, in line with the borough's Sustainable Community Strategy.
Mare Street residents also have access to the Greenhouse Health Centre - a St Mungo's, Thames Reach and Hackney Primary Care Trust partnership for access to doctors and specialist health workers.
ENDS
NOTES
For further information contact:
- Cabinet Office - Rachel Shaw, Senior Press Officer, 020 7276 0400, rachel.shaw@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk
- St Mungo's - Judith Higgin, Media Manager, 020 8762 5645, email: judith.higgin@mungos.org
- Mare Street was a former police section house was refurbished through a successful funding bid from St Mungo's and the Borough of Hackney to Communities and Local Government through their Hostels Capital Improvement Programme (HCIP), the second phase of which - The Places of Change Programme - has since transferred to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). The hostel also has a Library, arts groups, a recording studio run with a local community organisation Rising Tide, and a painting and decorating workshop.
- Established in 1969, St Mungo's has been helping rough sleepers and homeless people in the capital for 40 years. In the last year our outreach teams helped almost 450 people off the streets; we provided accommodation for more than 1,400 homeless people every night; and we supported over 1,000 clients with their mental health and substance use needs
- We run over 100 housing, health and work projects in London and the South (Bristol, Oxford, Reading)
- The St Mungo's Pathways to Employment programme prepares hostel residents on site for work and learning, whatever stage of recovery they are at - it underpins all St Mungo's work and learning services. Launched in Jan 2008, Pathways to Employment takes residents on a journey, from initial health check through to appropriate training, and on to a successful job search and sustainable employment.
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