New service launches to support Leeds’ most vulnerable women

The 'Somewhere Safe to Live' project is being delivered by Leeds City Council in partnership with Together Women. The project will support homeless women in Leeds to access high quality, secure and safe ‘move-on’ accommodation.

Through this scheme, women will be offered bespoke support to sustain their tenancies and ultimately to assist them in rebuilding their lives. Leeds City Council, Together Women and Foundation at Inspire North will work together to bring a portfolio of 15 self-contained, one-bedroom properties into the Leeds social housing sector over the space of two years, all of which will have two-year leases.

As part of this service, two female dedicated Specialist Housing Support Workers will work with the women to help them build their independence and access health care, recovery support and financial and welfare advice all while helping them to sustain their tenancies and turn their lives around.

Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader with responsibility for resources and Safer Leeds, said:

“This service will be absolutely lifechanging for women in our city who desperately need support and somewhere safe to call home.

“I am delighted that we are working in partnership with Together Women who are experts in providing specialist, tailored support for women and I hope that this will provide a lifechanging opportunity for the women who need to use this service to turn their lives around”

“The Somewhere Safe to Live project will add to the increasing portfolio of accommodation for homeless people in Leeds and contribute to the council’s vision of keeping people safe from harm and protecting the most vulnerable”.

Bethan Silley, senior key worker at Together Women, said:

“Somewhere Safe to Live is a new scheme supporting vulnerable women from emergency accommodation or homelessness into their own self-contained home, sourced by partnering organisations. Together Women will provide intensive person-centred support to empower women to maintain their tenancies, grow in independence and access opportunities.

“I am really excited to be part of providing this new service, allowing women to have a home they feel safe in as well as flexible support to address individual needs that are often seen as barriers for accessing and maintaining a tenancy.

“At Together Women we understand the many issues women face and the detrimental impact these factors can have on a woman sustaining a tenancy.

"Somewhere Safe to Live starts with the women’s voice; what does she want and need, giving them choice and control throughout the decision-making process, including where they live.

“We all need a safe home, the skills to maintain it and the right support for our individual needs. At Somewhere Safe to Live this is what we aim to provide.”

Ruth Kettle, CEO of Foundation at Inspire North, said:

“We are delighted to be part of this unique new service for vulnerable women in Leeds and we very much look forward to working in this partnership to provide decent affordable homes over the next two years.”

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