Councillor Jeanie Bell, St Helens Council Member for Safer, Stronger Communities, has visited Champions Court in Peasley Cross, St Helens as construction of North West housing group, Torus newest supported housing scheme to help homeless people to ‘move on’ nears completion.

At the outset of the pandemic hundreds of vulnerable people, across the country, were brought off the streets. Working together, Torus and St Helens Council have been committed to supporting those people. Champions Court will support the Boroughs next stage of the Covid-19 rough sleeping response by providing long-term ‘next steps’ accommodation, together with tailored, professional support in place from The Salvation Army to help them retain that home.

Champions Court, originally two difficult to let apartment blocks, has been extensively remodelled to create 28 quality homes with an on-site support team 24/7, designed to give people at risk of returning to the streets the environment and independence needed to escape the cycle of homelessness.

Following a successful joint bid from Torus and St Helens Council, the project has been funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP) fund. With £756,000 invested in the redevelopment, equating to £27,000 being invested in each unit. With revenue funding providing support worth £71,639 per year, for the next three years.

To mark the near completion of the site representatives from Torus and HMS welcomed partners from St Helens Council and The Salvation Army to site.

Sarah Houghton-Grimshaw, Torus Supported Housing Commissioning Manager, said:

“Torus are committed to supporting MCHLG in delivering their Rough Sleeping Accommodation Project in St Helens. This project is vital in giving former rough sleepers a place to call home with a chance to access dedicated support for up to two years to build their tenancy skills.

“It was also important to provide the best standard of accommodation possible to give the new residents a home to be proud of and the contractor, HMS have certainly gone above and beyond to do just that.

“Working with St Helens Borough Council and The Salvation Army, Torus lead the bid, identified a property and delivered the redevelopment of what was a tired set of flats.

“As the scheme is coming close to completion, it was a privilege to be able to show the residents their new apartments and to experience first-hand the impact that good quality accommodation will have on their lives.”

Councillor Bell, added:

“Safe and suitable move-on accommodation is an essential piece of the puzzle in our ongoing work to prevent rough sleeping in the borough. It can provide the stability many people need to turn the corner from rough sleeping, homelessness and refuge spaces, to securing long-term independence.

“Working in partnership and garnering the expertise and knowledge of other organisations and services is the best way to affect real change, so we’re proud to be joining Torus and The Salvation Army in this endeavour.

“I look forward to the completion of Champions Court, and seeing it provide stable homes with tailored support for those in need."

The 28 apartments will offer residents a two-year fixed tenancy, acting as a stepping-stone to a permanent home.

The Salvation Army regional manager for Homelessness Services in the North West Region, Robert Long, said:

“These flats are for people who have been homeless and are now ready to make that next step to independence. By providing them with a safe and warm place to stay, with the support they need for up to two years, they will be in a good position to then move into independent housing.

“A key job of the on-site support workers will be helping people find permanent accommodation. They will also have help with applying for training and work, and support with any addiction or mental health needs, but it will be more ‘light touch’ than it is in a Lifehouse (supported accommodation for people who are homeless).”

Twelve potential residents also visited the site and without exception they were all very pleased with the apartments, commenting.

“Torus have done a great job for us; I knew these apartments before, and I cannot believe the changes. They are absolutely stunning and the quality is astonishing, I am blown away.”

Torus Chief Operating Officer, Cath Murray-Howard, commented:

“Torus is committed to growing stronger communities and building great homes. The Champions Court development is a prime example of how all Torus entities work together, using our collective strength to put back and re-invest into our heartlands.”

Champions Court is due for completion the end of June and will welcome its first residents in July.