£40,000 grant for St Petrock's

St Petrock’s, Exeter’s charity for people who are homeless, has received further funding for its Private Rented Service which, so far, has successfully accommodated and continues to support 62 individuals who were previously homeless, in the local area.

The award has been made by Crisis, the national homelessness charity, as a result of additional government funding and aims to help 2,250 people who are homeless, over the next two years, by financially supporting projects around the country, like St Petrock’s in Exeter.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said: “We know that private renting has the potential to provide decent and stable and stable homes for homeless people.  But many will struggle to do this on their own.  The projects Crisis supports are crucial.  They help vulnerable people find suitable, lasting tenancies whilst setting the standards for others to follow.”

As a recipient of £40,000 funding over two years, Mel Hartley, project manager at St Petrock’s, said: “We’re delighted that we are able to secure this valuable service for a further two years as its proved an invaluable resource in providing much needed accommodation.

“Our Private Rented Service has been really successful in bridging a gap in available services for many of our clients.  Our worker supports both local landlords and individuals who are either facing homelessness or have experienced homelessness in finding the appropriate accommodation.  We are then able to help with deposits and provide on-going support to that individual and landlord to help ensure successful tenancies. 

“This approach has managed to achieve a 92% rate of long-term tenancy sustainability – which is a real achievement when compared with other services and highlights the importance of giving individuals some choice in their accommodation as well as providing on-going support.”