Housing Officer

**Threshold DAS are recruiting for the exciting new ‘TY RHOSYN’.**

**Ending Rural Homelessness Project: CARMARTHENSHIRE and CEREDIGION**

**About the Ty Rhosyn Service**

TY RHOSYN Housing Support Services will aim to support vulnerable individuals at risk of homelessness, not just during a crisis, but throughout their journey towards independence.

Prevention and early intervention are key to addressing homelessness in rural areas offering a range of supports to people at risk of eviction, providing crisis and transitional accommodation and helping individuals to find long-term, sustainable, and affordable housing options. Our staff will work with people experiencing domestic abuse, alcohol and drug problems, mental health issues, problem gambling, and other factors that can affect their ability to maintain a tenancy.

There are currently many families and individuals across Wales who are without a home. This includes very visible homelessness, such as people rough sleeping, but also less visible forms, such as people staying in sheds or outhouses, on the sofas of family or friends, or living in hostels and bed and breakfasts without a plan to move on.

The common perception of a homeless person is an older man with a drinking or drug problem who sleeps in an inner-city park or street. However, we know from our experience and Census figures there is no “typical” homeless person.

Homelessness can affect women, men, and children from a wide range of backgrounds living in our cities, towns, and villages.

Yet the problem is often masked by the fact that people experiencing homelessness move from one temporary solution to another, ‘making do’ until they can find permanent accommodation. Some never achieve this.

These individuals, the ‘hidden homeless’, often move between the homes of family members or, as is often the case with individuals who ‘couch surf’, a series of friends.

Some stay in refuges, boarding houses, cheap motels, caravans and even cars. As you can imagine, such uncertainty can take an enormous toll on a person’s self-worth and capacity to go to school, find work and stay healthy.

Homelessness also comes at a high social and economic cost to our society, another reason why prevention is so vital.

TY RHOSYN Housing Support Services is a multi-faceted program of support to identify and address homelessness in rural Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. Providing a joined-up service that not only addresses current homelessness but also work toward a model that has the visualisation to cease homelessness in the future.

**Where we will be working**

We will be working in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, but we are hoping to extend our Tenancy programme into southeast Wales in years two/three.

There are 4 main partners, all registered charities, and several other partners which are non-financing. The main financed partners are:
1. Threshold DAS (Lead)

2. Calan Domestic Violence Services (CALAN DVS)

3. Carmarthen Domestic Abuse Services (CARM DAS)

4. West Wales Domestic Abuse Services (WWDAS)

**Homelessness Prevention Officer**

**About you**

Empowering people from all walks of life is what we are all about, so we are keen to hear from people in disadvantaged or underrepresented groups. Whatever your background, it is desirable, but not essential that the person has an in-depth understanding of housing and domestic abuse.

There is a responsibility for the post holder to demonstrate a commitment to quality service delivery through continuous improvement for the benefit of the Service and the organisation.

**About the role**

Specialist workerswillfocus on prevention of homelessness for women, men, and their families at risk of homelessness in rural areas. The project will offer help and support to prevent homelessness at an earlier stage and at least two to three months before crisis point.

The HPO will discuss all issues, support needs affecting the situation and offer expert advice and guidance. The HPO will work with the service users to complete a Personal Housing and Wellbeing Plan that will help to support their housing needs.

The HPO will work in close partnership with the local housing authority, Social Landlords, and private landlords, to ensure that the service users’ needs are always put at the Centre of any needs.

We will offer advice on housing benefits and statutory financial entitlements to ensure that service users are accessing as much help as they are entitled to. We are also able to offer our Family Mediation service which aims to re-establish positive contact with families where it is appropriate and safe to do so. The support will vary and can be a combination of services.

**FURTHER INFO**

**What you can expect from us**

You will be joining a dynamic organisation where staff welfare and development is paramount.

Benefits package includes:

- Investment in your ongoing career development.
- Pension Scheme.
- Peer support.
- Laptop and mobile ph