A PIONEERING homeless project is being rolled at across Oldham and Tameside, targeted at helping families fleeing domestic violence.

The project, which is also being run in Stockport, is being run by Threshold, part of the Jigsaw Group, formerly known as the New Charter Group.

Funding has been granted by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), enabling Threshold to pilot the project for a year initially.

The UK has seen a dramatic increase in the number of families becoming homeless in recent years. Domestic abuse is the 10th reason nationally for homelessness, and in higher areas of deprivation within Greater Manchester such as Tameside, domestic abuse is the fourth reason for homelessness.

Housing First is quickly becoming a nationally and internationally solution to help tackle homelessness and Threshold has been pioneering this model for some time working with Homeless Link and The University of York with evidence to show its success.

It is also recognised that the majority of the hidden homeless are women (50%), in many cases fleeing domestic abuse.

Many families fleeing domestic abuse do not access refuge accommodation and therefore remain at risk.

Threshold has already enjoyed success with its original Housing First service, which was one of the country’s first gender-specific projects focusing on female ex-offenders.

Nearly all the women Threshold worked with had also suffered some kind of domestic abuse and after receiving support, re-offending rates were cut to zero.

The charity is now able to take its learnings from the initial pilot, as well as the expertise gained from running a number of refuges for women fleeing domestic violence to implement this new programme.

The project is already supporting 27 families and Threshold has seen massive demand with more than 69 referrals in the first few weeks. All families will be helped into permanent accommodation whilst providing them with intensive, wrap-around support.

In addition, Threshold has hired a Recourse Worker who specialises in helping those who have no recourse to public funds, such as those on residence permits with certain stipulations.

The funding has allowed Threshold to employ five additional front line support workers and a manager to run the Housing First service, which is based upon the seven ‘Pathways to Housing’ principles set out by Housing First founder Sam Tsemberis in the 1990s.

The project is still in its infancy, but initial outcomes are already showing improvements in negative family relationships, social isolation, prescribed medication and mental health and wellbeing.

Housing First recently made headlines when it was announced in the Autumn budget that the government would provide £28 million to fund three major pilots in Greater Manchester, the West Midlands and Liverpool.

Anyone who works with victims of domestic abuse who are at risk of becoming homeless can refer their clients to the service by emailing HousingFirstTeam@jigsawhomes.org.uk