Fresh Start Housing Service is committed to helping vulnerable people gain access to appropriate housing and necessary support. As a Housing Service initiative, we are dedicated to assisting people with a wide range of issues, including homelessness, ex offenders, single mothers and alcohol and substance misuse. Our professional, well trained staff understand these issues and have many years experience in encouraging people to progress toward independence.
Fresh Start Housing Service grew out of our sister company Cranford`s Property Services which opened their first house in Dagenham Essex in 2007, by Winston Crawford a property developer and Recovered Alcoholic and Cocaine Addict. He opened the house in response to the growing problem of homelessness amongst young men and women whose lives had been affected by drugs, crime and homelessness, within the local area.
Cranford`s Property Service was approach by the local drug agency team who heard about the people they were housing within the area, to work in conjunction with them to help house their clients. They had no idea how to put together a care plan let alone support the tenants at this time, but the seed was sown, It was this that made them concentrate on helping their tenants by not only giving them a home to live in but to help them maintain a tenancy and deal with life challenges, helping with Housing Benefits use of computers, writing CV, getting in touch with the local college. This transformation took almost three years to complete. During this period, the Directors, embarked on an important culture change without losing sight of its original ethos, helping those less fortunate to help themselves.
Fresh Start Housing Service currently provides accommodation for single homeless men and women between age of 25-75, many of whom have substance abuse as well as alcohol problems, were homeless, some were street homeless and or offending background. Our properties have between 2 to 5 bedrooms. Our staff provide advice on housing, budgeting, basic skills, debt, benefits and relationship building. We help all residents to register with GPs, dentists and relevant specialist services. We encourage our clients to engage with community groups that providing activities such as gardening, cooking, music, photography, fishing and sport.
Fresh Start Housing Service has been credited for its ability to embrace change and promote good practice.
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To provide safe accommodation where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and respected.
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To offer the structure and stability that our clients require to reintegrate successfully into mainstream society.
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To deliver high-quality, individualised support that empowers residents to make informed choices in all aspects of their lives.
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To enable clients to take control of their lives by exercising their rights and responsibilities.
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To work in partnership with clients and other service providers, helping clients to build their independent living skills.
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To provide every client with educational, leisure, training, and vocational opportunities.
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To support all of our clients to manage their physical health, mental health, and substance misuse issues.
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To assist clients to plan and manage their finances.
- To continue providing high-quality support that enables clients to achieve independence.
- To continue to support existing activities and seek new partnerships in order to develop the range of activities on offer.
- To purchase additional properties to replace those units that we currently manage on behalf of private landlords. We will ensure that these additional properties are affordable and refurbished to a high standard, with clients being meaningfully involved throughout the process.
- We promote equality of opportunity for all clients, irrespective of their race, religion, sexuality, ethnicity or social background.
- We are committed to working in an anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory manner with all of our staff, residents, and visitors.
- We are determined to challenge discrimination, racism, oppression and social injustice.
Fresh Start Housing Service is fully committed to involving service users in every aspect of service delivery.
Fresh Start Housing Services philosophy of support is to give each individual to whom we offer a service the best possible opportunity to gain the skills and confidence necessary to enable them to play an active role within the community and go on to live productive clean sober lives.
Continuous Growth
Provides support to homeless people, especially for those with substance misuse problems.
Community engagement
Help individuals learn how to live independently and become actively engaged in the local community.
Support Mechanism
Assist clients in working towards meeting personal, social and educational goals.
We seek to provide good quality accommodation within a safe, supportive and encouraging environment. What are you waiting for? take the first step to a fresh start.