Words by Smiley Team
For homeless refugees, gaining shelter is just one step in the process to fully integrating into society. To aid this transition, refugee service provider ACH has teamed with the national homeless charity Crisis. Together the organisations will roll out an innovative programme of Critical Time Intervention (CTI) that will help them to happily integrate into UK life.
Designed to help people needing support during dramatic transitions in their lives, CTI is a process based on extensive research, that helps people to sustain a tenancy and successfully join their local community.
Crisis’ funding and experience using the CTI model, combined with ACH’s local expertise will help refugees make a sustainable move from supported housing and into employment.
Over nine months, Bristol-based refugees will benefit from education, training and employment services as part of the programme. They’ll gain access benefits, rented accommodation and local services so that, by the end of the period, they will have the means to move forward independently.
Integration team leader at ACH Rachel Sharp explained: “For many of our tenants, receiving their refugee status and moving out of National Asylum Support Service accommodation is a huge transition. The CTI Project is perfectly structured to suit the needs of our tenants, as it is based on supporting people through these important transitions. It’s going to be extremely beneficial for our tenants in allowing us to focus on providing much needed intensive support at the start of their tenancy.”
Chief executive of Crisis Jon Sparkes added: “We know that homelessness is not inevitable, and we know that by working together we can ensure that no one will be forced to live without somewhere safe and settled to call home. We’re delighted to be working together towards building a programme to ensure that people are supported to rebuild their lives and leave homelessness behind for good.”
Upskilling refugees through culturally sensitive training sessions, ACH helps those across the West of England and West Midlands who’ve fled disasters only to find themselves sleeping rough on the streets. They help such individuals seek work and gain independence, easing their integration into UK life.
The organisation’s support workers include those who come from a refugee or migrant background themselves, so they can help integrate their lived experiences into projects so they are tailored carefully to refugees’ needs. Since 2008, the company has started resettling over 2,500 individuals.
To help find a home for more even people sleeping rough, you can donate via the Crisis website.
For more information about ACH visit their website.
