Sustain offers time limited floating support to 32 clients who are having difficulties sustaining their tenancies in the community due to alcohol and/or drug issues.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of the service is to assist 32 problem drinkers and drug users whose rent arrears, chaotic living conditions or neighbourhood disputes have put their tenancies at risk.
We aim to achieve this by:
- Working co-operatively with statutory, social and private landlords
- Providing practical, non-judgemental specialist support that is flexible to the individual’s needs.
- Working closely with specialist drug and alcohol agencies, anti-social behaviour teams and other appropriate support services.
- Working in a multi-agency way in order to prevent eviction taking place.
- Enabling and encouraging individual to develop skills and strategies to deal with their substance and anti-social issues.
Offering this type of support to vulnerable drug/alcohol users brings many benefits not only to the individual but also to the wider community. By assisting to create some stability to people using the scheme we aim to see knock-on effects in terms of: reduction in rent arrears, reduction in anti-social behaviour, and reduction in the number of abandoned properties and more sustainable communities.
Referrals
Referrals will be considered for all single people, couples and families whose tenancies are at risk due to substance misuse. Referrals can be made by phone or by completing a referral form and sending it via fax or email to the sector office where a decision will be made as to whether the person referred meets the service criteria. If so an interview will be arranged in order to discuss the presenting issues with the service user and the referring agent and to decide upon the type of support that is needed.
Appeals
Where a referral request has been refused and the applicant or their referrer is not satisfied with the reasons given, they have a right to appeal the decision. Appeals should be made in writing within 10 working days of receipt of the written decision. Once received an appeals meeting will be arranged within 5 working days chaired by a Senior Manager at which the applicant and their referrer have the opportunity to state why they disagreed with the decision. An appeal decision will be made within 3 working days.
Support Services
Clients are allocated a key worker who maintains regular contact and works with the individual and other involved agencies. The keyworker co-ordinates the needs and risk assessments and develops the support plans and their reviews with the clients and any other support agencies involved. The key worker will aim to work with the client on a regular planned basis as often as the individual’s circumstances require and it is acknowledged that initially there may be frequent contact that will decrease in time as the presenting support issues are resolved.
Staff and Management
The service is staffed by a Scheme Coordinator and Housing Support Workers. The Scheme Coordinator reports to a Senior Manager who is based at LHC’s Central Office. The service is staffed Monday – Thursday 9am-5pm and 9am – 4.30pm Friday.
Contact Details
Address: Sustain, 6 Middleton Crescent, Leeds, LS11 6JU
Telephone: (0113) 276 5603
Fax: (0113) 277 7671
Scheme Coordinator: Marcia Firth
Senior Manager: Jocelyn Bass