News
Charity for homeless wins grant
3 June 2008
A charity which helps homeless people find a place to live has been awarded a £30,000 grant.
The Exeter Homelessness Action Group (EHAG) has been given the money towards its Smartmove project, which helps vulnerable people across Exeter.
The community programme grant has been made by the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales.
From its offices in Exeter city centre, EHAG has been offering housing advice and support for more than 15 years.
It runs an emergency overnight accommodation service for young people, an advice helpline and outreach surgery and a support service for ex-offenders in need of housing after prison.
It also provides a deposit guarantee for people on low incomes and continuous tenancy support. Its Smartmove project creates sustainable tenancies in the private rented sector and works with landlords to help them manage problems they may encounter with vulnerable tenants, without resorting to eviction.
EHAG director Jacqui Gale said the beneficiaries of the grant would be diverse.
She said: “Homelessness does not only mean those people we see sleeping on the streets.
“Smartmove works with a broad range of groups who find access to rented accommodation unaffordable: young people moving on from supported housing or leaving care, single parent families, ex-offenders, sofa-surfers and those on low incomes who simply can’t afford a deposit, plus a month’s rent.”
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Homeless visit for Exeter MP
Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has been to visit a homeless charity in the city
2 April 2008
Mr Bradshaw spoke to all 11 members of staff at Exeter Homeless Action Group in Palace Gate and two of the young people it is helping.
Director Jacqui Gale, said: “Mr Bradshaw was interested to hear their stories and, likewise, they were keen to talk to their MP. We also had beneficiaries there, along with three trustees.
“He was very understanding. We discussed various issues, including youth homelessness and family breakdowns. He agreed to come along because we do a lot of work to tackle homelessness in Exeter and he was really interested in seeing how we work. We help people in so many ways.
“It was a positive meeting and he has offered to work more closely with us, which we are looking forward to.”
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Nightstop Devon interviewed for Children in Need
23 November 2007
Nightstop Devon on the BBC again!
Staff and young people from Nightstop Devon were interviewed in the lead up to BBC Children in Need night.
Exeter Nightstop provides emergency accommodation and support for homeless young people.
Related links: >> BBC Devon
