59 people have been housed in Stoke-on-Trent in the past two months, thanks to a Stoke homelessness partnership.

Last year, Stoke had the highest rate of homelessness in North Staffordshire - on any given night, there were at least 70 people living in a hostel, temporary accommodation or on the streets.

The Destination:Home Gateway team, based at homelessness charity Concrete's head office in Stoke, aim to house people without a home.

Consisting of homelessness charity Concrete, North Staffs Mind, Adullam Homes, Changes: Health and Wellbeing and WALK Ministries, the service delivers 24/7 support to local people in housing crisis across the city. 

In the last two months, the Gateway team has secured safe accommodation for 59 local people, both within the Destination:Home partnership and with external housing providers. 

The team are based at Concrete's office on London Road, Stoke (Honeycomb Group).

Gateway Coordinator Marcus Asbury has been part of the team since November 2020. He said there is currently a 'real demand' for housing, with the team receiving around 10 to 12 referrals a day on average.  

He added that there has been a 'huge increase' in referrals since Christmas.  

"There's lots of reasons for homelessness," he explained. 

"Relationship breakdowns are a huge reason, which is something a lot of people don't realise. That can be any relationship, not just romantic ones.  

"Sometimes we hear from the same people repeatedly. Homelessness can often come with multiple disadvantages, needs and vulnerabilities. It may be that their accommodation didn't work out and that we need to find a different, more creative approach, that fits that individual." 

Working within the homelessness sector can be challenging, but incredibly rewarding too. By housing people without a home, the team are changing lives every single day. 

"The best part for me is when people are so grateful that we're able to offer them a home," said Gateway Coordinator Chloe Mountford-Edge.  

Chloe Mountford-Edge works as part of the team which houses those in need (Concrete).

"We recently offered a bedsit to a lady who had been sleeping in her car for a month. She broke down crying when she arrived because it had just completely changed her life. We're not in this job for the thanks, we don't do it for that. We do it because we care and we want to help people. However when people get emotional and you can tell they're really grateful, it's lovely. 

"It's never a choice, people can fall on hard times. I think we all need to be a bit kinder to people who have been through difficult situations." 

If you're at risk of losing your home, or worried about someone else, get in touch with the Gateway team by calling 0330 094 5558. 

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