“Background
This update report relates to the £5,000 grant awarded to The Wallich by the 1910 Trust in October 2022. The grant supported our unique Flexible Funds programme – a Wales-wide fund that provides personalised financial support to people and families who are experiencing homelessness or are at immediate risk of homelessness. The Flexible Fund is a tried and tested model which offers a unique and flexible solution to help people on their journey away from homelessness through one-off grants which promote wellbeing and relieve or avoid a crisis.
The Fund provides access to additional support where funds are not available from existing sources, or where other sources of funding have been exhausted, and can be used for the following purposes:
· Overcoming financial barriers to housing/accommodation
· Relieving / eliminating factors that risk someone becoming homeless
· Improving someone’s wellbeing
· Helping someone avoid a crisis.
Available via individual Wallich projects and outreach services across Wales, the fund is open to individual applications of between £20 and £1,000.
Project update
During this period, we have received 81 requests, resulting in the distribution of £7,646.
The grants help us provide the most person-centred solutions for people experiencing homelessness and have ranged from the provision of ID documents needed to open a bank account and access benefit entitlements; a phone charger to help ensure an individuals’ safety; fuel to enable attendance at job interviews; and grants towards the purchase of essential items needed to move into a home, for those supported into housing.
Examples of the range of support provided
Examples of the variety of people and situations supported via the Flexible Fund include:
£25 to stay in education: Client A had broken glasses. Just £25 was needed to get them replaced so that Client A could continue their basic skills course confidently.
£200 to avoid a crisis and enhance health and wellbeing: Client B has a young family and was engaging with support, but financial difficulties prevented him from affording a new cooker when the families broke down. He had exhausted all options via DAF and UC and the family were living on ready meals and dependent on a microwave. A £200 grant enabled the purchase of a low-price cooker, which avoided a crisis and supported the family’s health and well-being.
£50 to stay connected: Without access to a phone or the internet, Client C was at risk of missing work shifts. £50 paid for a basic smartphone to help keep their job and independence.
£713.52 to secure a suitable home and maintain sustainable change: Client D had made huge progress and maintained a PRS (Private Rental Sector) flat in good condition, with no arrears for 7 months. Prohibited from a suitable Housing Association tenancy due to previous debt, the Flexible Fund provided 50% of the arrears to enable a positive resettlement, prevent anxiety and ensure progress continued.”