Axiom to increase homeless provision in partnership with city council

Axiom Housing Association - which is part of Longhurst Group - is to expand its work to help rough sleepers off the streets as part of the city council’s plan to tackle homelessness.

Axiom’s Severe Weather Emergency Provision (SWEP) is among the initiatives included in Peterborough City Council’s new Homelessness Reduction Strategy, which, this month, secured £285,000 worth of funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

It will see Axiom – which manages more than 2,000 homes and care and support services across Peterborough, East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Fenland – expand the SWEP service, which currently offers shelter for homeless individuals at its Fair View Court supported housing project (pictured) during periods of cold weather. 

At the start of this year, due to an increase in rough sleepers and the periods of prolonged severe wintry weather, the shelter was regularly at capacity, meaning even more vulnerable people were helped off the streets and offered an escape from the sub-zero temperatures.

However, having been approached by the local authority, Axiom will now be adopting a year-round approach to Emergency Provision throughout 2018/19, rather than only during periods of severe weather.

Fay Moore, Head of Supported Housing at Axiom, said: “We were pleased to be approached by Peterborough City Council to expand our Emergency Provision for rough sleepers in the city. 

“The Severe Weather Emergency Provision has grown in recent years and it’s pleasing to see this being recognised within the funding bid.

“It will allow us to offer a place to stay for more people, whilst they work with us and the council, to move off the streets.

“The team work very hard to run this additional service and are dedicated to reducing homelessness in the city.

“I am very proud of them and would like to thank them for all their hard work.”

Peterborough City councillor Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities, added: "We have worked hard to secure extra funding and are pleased that the government has recognised our bid.

“This extra funding will make a significant difference to positive work already underway with partners across the city, and will support the delivery of our new Homelessness Reduction Strategy which was approved by full council last month."