Leeds’ new supported accommodation for homeless 18-25-year-olds, Lowell House, is now officially open and already providing homes and specialist intense support for young people with a history of rough sleeping.
At Lowell House, the young residents have their own studio apartment and 24/7 specialist support, helping them to develop independent living skills while addressing embedded trauma, challenges such as poor mental health and other complex needs like substance addiction.
Part of the government’s Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP), Lowell House has been set-up by Beeston-based charity Turning Lives Around who is one of eight partners working collaboratively with other professionals to offer SHAP accommodation in Leeds. Innovative and upcoming, SHAP offers a home that focuses on supporting clients overcome embedded habits that have previously excluded them from other services.
There is SHAP accommodation for 59 people across the city with Lowell House housing five. Funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), TLA is working in partnership with Leeds City Council, Barca, Leeds NHS Community team amongst others. All Lowell House clients will have easy access to mental health support, including psychologists and art therapy, and will be supported by a Barca Navigator.
Lowell House is named after the UK’s leading credit management specialists, Lowell, who have been working with TLA as their regional charity partner for more than two years and have partially funded, with a generous five figure donation, the transformation of former offices in South Leeds into the five purpose-built studio apartments plus communal facilities that make up Lowell House.
Helen Wilks is leading the team of specialist support workers who will be providing 24/7 support at Lowell House. She is looking forward to the longer-term support, security and stability that Lowell House will be able to offer, enabling the young tenants to settle and develop the independent learning skills and coping strategies they need.
“As a team we are committed to ensuring Lowell House is, above all, a home for our clients, offering personalised support to meet their needs,” said Helen who has been working with young people for six years.
“I am looking forward to working with young people who, because of their needs, may have been challenging to place previously. The team is working hard behind the scenes to ensure we are prepared to work in a different way to drive positive outcomes.”
Lowell House was officially opened by John Pears, UK CEO of Lowell, whose UK HQ in Leeds employs around 2,000 people, and Steve Hoey, CEO of TLA which works to prevent homelessness amongst some of the most vulnerable in West Yorkshire, annually supporting more than 1200 people. John said:
“We are incredibly proud to support Lowell House and the vital work being done by Turning Lives Around. This initiative aligns perfectly with our commitment to making a positive impact in our community. By providing safe, supported accommodation for young people who have faced significant challenges, we are helping to create a brighter future for them. Lowell House is more than just a place to live; it’s a foundation for these young individuals to rebuild their lives and develop the skills they need to thrive independently.”
Thanking Lowell for their ongoing support, Steve said:
“We continue to be blown away by Lowell’s generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to us. Rough sleeping remains a challenge and a priority in the city. The fact that even some young people are driven to live on the streets by their own desperate circumstances is both heartbreaking and deeply concerning but SHAP and Lowell House provides hope that, with the new approach of working in partnership with other professionals, we can alleviate some of the challenge.”
“Lowell’s generosity has enabled us to get Lowell House off the ground and through it, TLA will be able to help some of these young people, providing the stability and support they need to go on and live full, independent, healthy lives.”
This post is based on a press release issued on behalf of Turning Lives Around
Photo: Steve Hoey (left) and John Pears outside the newly opened Lowell House
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