19 September 2008
Charities are to receive £100,000 from the government to help about 800 ex-homeless people find work in the voluntary sector.
Large organisations that work with homeless people, including Thames Reach, have pledged that in future at least 10% of their workforce will be made up of staff with experience of being homeless.
The initiative, announced by housing minister Caroline Flint on September 11, will initially involve 46 large charities before being extended to smaller agencies. As well as matching the government funds pound for pound, the charities will offer a consultancy service along with training in IT, finance and client counsellling.
Flint said: 'Finding a job after a period of inactivity and without a permanent address can be one of the hardest things for any of us to do. I want to see homelessness organisations across the country taking up the challenge and unlocking the skills and talents of people to the benefit of all.'
The latest quarterly statistics show that 74,690 families were in temporary accommodation at the end of June – down 12% on a year ago.
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