Home at last
Silver Jubilee for St Nicholas Court
Midland Heart is one of the biggest providers of homelessness services in the Midlands, working with over 6000 customers each year to give them the access to accommodation and housing related support which helps people to maintain their independence.
Scheme manager Nalin Popat pulled out the stops to throw a party to remember to mark the scheme’s Silver Jubilee. Balloons, a buffet and live entertainment ensured a great turnout from the 27 flats at the service in Radford, Coventry
The organisation has a range of services, from direct access accommodation, floating support and our Homeless Service Centre in Birmingham. Sunrise takes a look at one entrenched rough sleeper, Alan King, 64, who was supported into accommodation. After years of sleeping on the streets Alan King spent the winter months in the warm and comfortable surrounding at St Eugene’s Court. Alan, 64, had been in and out of homeless services across Birmingham and was known to the outreach team, but he repeatedly lost his accommodation following street drinking sessions. Early last year Tony Feeney, a Peer Support Worker based at the Homeless Services Centre (HSC), was assigned to Alan’s case by Donna Regan from the outreach team.
Alan leaves the streets for new life at St Eugene’s 14
Donna and Tony secured Alan a room at St Eugene’s in Digbeth service last July. Tony said: “Alan settled in quite quickly and is doing well thanks to the support work offered by the staff at St Eugene’s. “He’s a lovely man and is very wellliked so it has been rewarding to see him settled in a safe place. No one should be living on the streets but especially not someone of older years.” Tony discovered that someone had access to Alan’s bank details and as soon as his pension was paid into his
account, it was withdrawn, leaving Alan penniless. As Alan didn’t have any ID getting the account closed down was a lengthy process, despite the involvement of the Department of Work and Pensions and Social Services. Tony explained: “Thankfully his bank account was eventually closed and he could finally access his pension.”
Elaine Jackson, the scheme’s longestserving resident, was at the heart of the celebrations. She moved in to St Nicholas Court two months after it opened in February 1990. She said: “My husband and I sold our house in Radford to move here as we were getting older and never regretted it. It was a good move for us. I have always felt warm, comfortable and safe and I love having the company.” Elaine, 90, added: “There have been quite a few changes here over the years but we’re all like one happy family.” Also at the celebrations was John Scoffham, representing his late wife Gill, who was manager at St Nicholas Court for the first nine years. The couple live on-site at No. 6 and John said: “They were very happy times. Being here brings back a lot of happy memories for me.”
Alan was encouraged to start a payment plan with staff giving him a daily allowance to help Alan manage his finances. Tony explained: “It’s particularly important that he has a greater control of his cash because he is known among the rough sleeper community as being something of a ‘soft touch’ when it comes to giving away money.” Tony added: “Working with Alan has been so rewarding, particularly since he’s such a lovely guy. It is great to see him settled and happy in a comfortable home… which is just as it should be.”
Scheme manager Nalin Popat (centre) with Elaine Jackson and John Scoffham
email us at: sunrise@midlandheart.org.uk or call: 0345 60 20 540
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