The first of 10 properties that will enable members of Mansfield’s rough sleeper community to take the important first steps to a better life became available today (Monday 27th July).

Six of Mansfield’s most entrenched rough sleepers, who have experienced street life for many years, will take up residence in accommodation with around support to help them rehabilitate and address their complex needs.

The £310,628 Mansfield First Steps project is funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Rough Sleeping Initiative and delivered by Action Housing with support from Change Grow Live (CGL) on behalf of Mansfield District Council.

The Housing First type model has been successfully delivered in other parts of the country and is now being brought to Mansfield as the first of its kind in Nottinghamshire, outside the city of Nottingham.

Mansfield First Steps aims to help tackle rough sleeping at a grass roots level by providing housing and ongoing support to tackle addiction and mental health conditions.

The project will be supported by four dedicated workers with a specific substance misuse worker for Mansfield district. It will deliver 10 individual properties and a further 20 supported bed spaces in shared accommodation.

Coun Marion Bradshaw, portfolio holder for housing at the council, said: “This project will allow Mansfield District Council to give support to our most vulnerable rough sleepers who have really complex needs.

“The wraparound care will help them to secure a long-term tenancy in their accommodation and to address their health and wellbeing issues through targeted support. The project will tackle rough sleeping head-on and help us to meet some of the targets set within the council’s homelessness and rough sleeper action plan. We hope that it will be life changing for members of our street community.”