MindWise have marked their first year operating local homeless hostel, Inverary House.
Inverary House supports people who experience mental ill health and homelessness. The official relaunch celebrated the many changes that Inverary House has undergone in this short time, which have been championed by support workers Bill and Heather, who have dedicated more than 20 years to the service.
Inverary House has welcomed 64 people since MindWise took over its operations, with 60% of residents supported to move into secure, long term tenancies.
Ian Lynn, who manages the service, says, “Since April, we have made massive changes throughout the service. We have worked with residents and our stakeholders to modernise the service to ensure that it is fit for purpose and reflective of the support needs of those homeless individuals we work with. Through our work with our charity partner SHS, we have been able to update the hostel throughout. This includes a new communal kitchen which means we can support our residents in enhancing basic life skills, enabling them to maximise their chances of sustaining their own long term tenancies when they are ready for independent living. Reintegration into local society is our main focused goal we wish for all of our residents”.
Ursula Toner, Choice Regional Head of Tenant & Client Services said:
“I am delighted to see this scheme continue to thrive thanks to the dedication of staff and the support workers. The first year of this new partnership has been one that we can all be very proud of. These celebration events are important not only to mark the great work of done by Mindwise, our partners and Choice, but also of the significant contribution by everyone who has used this service.
Choice is very proud to support the fantastic work Mindwise are doing to help those facing acute challenges such as homelessness and mental health issues find pathways to securing and sustaining accommodation.”
There are a range of factors that can lead to someone becoming homeless, with mental health issues often playing a role. Numerous studies have shown higher prevalence of mental ill health in people who are experiencing homelessness. MindWise practices a stepped care approach, working with people at every stage of their mental health journey in providing safe, supportive accommodation that meets their needs. With the right housing related support, people with mental ill health and complex needs can maintain their tenancies, improve their quality of life and reduce social isolation.
