Aims and objectives
The Hollies aim is to provide women immediate access to safe emergency accommodation and to move them on to more settled accommodation within 14 days.
This is achieved by:
- Providing 24 hour staffed, fully furnished, secure, safe and accessible accommodation.
- A dedicated staff team who have a range of skills, experience and knowledge who are committed to providing support and specialist housing advice to homeless women.
- A comprehensive support plan package facilitated by dedicated key workers to facilitate the woman obtaining more appropriate accommodation.
- Working cooperatively with Tier 2 supported housing providers, private, social and statutory landlords.
- Enabling and encouraging individuals to develop skills and strategies to deal with their support issues.
Accommodation
The hostel is situated in the far Headingley area of Leeds and has 31 bed spaces of which:
- 21 are fully furnished bedrooms with a hand wash basin and fridge. This accommodation is in two wings, each containing two floors and on each floor is a fully furnished shared TV lounge, kitchen, bathroom and toilet.
- 2 are disabled wheelchair access bed-sits with shared toilets and shower facilities.
- 7 are bed-sits with shared lounge and bathroom facilities.
In addition to the above the hostel has laundry facilities, a pay phone, a pool table and a social area.
Conditions of Occupancy
All clients are required to sign an occupancy agreement and to adhere to the terms, conditions and responsibilities within this. Clients are also required to pay a personal weekly charge, part of which can be covered by housing benefit if the user is eligible to claim this.
Support Services
Clients are allocated a key worker who works on a regular basis with the individual and other involved agencies. The key worker co-ordinates the needs and risk assessment and develops support plans and reviews with the service user and any other support agencies involved. The key worker will aim to work with the service user as often as is needed and it is acknowledged that initially there may need to be frequent contact that will decrease in time as the presenting housing issues are addressed.
Referrals
Accommodation is available to single women aged 16 and over who have been deemed as being emergency homeless by Leeds City Council’s Housing Advice and Prevention Service.
Priority is given to referrals from Housing Options Team (HOT) between the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Out of hours referrals may be made to other homeless services/providers outside these hours, however the service user will need to attend HAP for a homelessness assessment on the first working day following admission. Referral is usually made by phone and a decision will usually be given immediately after a needs and risk assessment is completed, and a move in time will be given. This will usually be within 2 hours.
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.
Staff and Management
The hostel is staffed by a Hostel Coordinator, Housing Support Workers, Night Support Workers and Housekeepers. The Hostel Coordinator is responsible to a Senior Manager who is based at LHC’s Central Office. The service is available 24 hours a day for enquiries, referrals and support except on a Thursday afternoon when a team meeting is held and an answer phone is used for telephone messages.
Contact Details
Address: The Hollies, Weetwood Lane, Leeds, LS16 5NZ
Telephone: (0113) 274 3858
Fax: (0113) 274 9984
Scheme Coordinator: Mia Cameron
Senior Manager: Lesley Sendall-Long