Housing
homeless national initiative
British Property Federation - Cooper Launches £4 million Homeless Project
Communities minister Yvette Cooper MP will today unveil
Foundations for Life, a new venture transforming hostels into
dynamic learning centres providing young homeless people with an
array of new opportunities.
Launched and funded by the property industry's charity LandAid,
the national initiative has been set up by homeless charity
Centrepoint with the full financial backing of leading property
companies, represented by the British Property Federation (BPF).
The centres will help vulnerable young people by
providing training and personal support, encouraging them to
develop themselves and helping them find the motivation to do
so.
Along with Centrepoint's award winning experience of developing
life-changing services for homeless young people, LandAid will
also provide key practical contributions. These include the
upgrade and provision of suitable rooms and facilities to
develop young people's skills for life, work and study and the
staff to deliver programmes of skills development.
Foundation for Life will also include programmes of support for
young people in entering the world of work, re-entering formal
education and training, and moving on to take up tenancies in
the private sector.
LandAid president Mike Slade, also chief executive of Helical
Bar said: "The property industry has long been committed to
helping tackle homelessness and we are delighted they are
backing the to back the fine work undertaken by LandAid and
Centrepoint. There are many wider issues to be debated about
tackling the supply of housing for young people, and we welcome
further discussions with ministers on finding a suitable way
forward."
Anthony Lawton, Centrepoint chief executive said: "This
programme is set to radically transform the lives of thousands
of homeless young people. Dedicated learning areas containing IT
suites and workshop space in locations across the country
coupled with motivated and supportive staff will help tackle the
root causes of homelessness. Over the next four years LandAid
have committed their entire fundraising efforts - estimated to
be £4 million - to prevent homelessness. This is a real
commitment by the property sector."
Yvette Cooper MP, Minister for Housing, said: "Foundations for
Life demonstrates what can be achieved if we are determined to
make change happen. I applaud the property sector and I would
like to take this opportunity to urge as many property
businesses as possible to support the Foundations for Life
initiative, which is set to make a major contribution to my
department's existing Hostel Capital Improvement Programme,
which I know is already having an impact of the lives of
homeless young people."
Email: ateacher@bpf.og.uk