Somerset homeless support charity worried for future

A charity which works with particularly vulnerable homeless people has said it is crucial its work continues.

Step Together, run by Second Step, has helped nearly 600 people in Somerset over the last five years.

Its clients have at least two areas of extra need in addition to being homeless, such as addiction or mental health problems.

The project said its future work is now at risk as Somerset Council looks to save tens of millions of pounds.

Kayleigh Masters, 35, spent years living in hostels and temporary accommodation as well as being in and out of hospital, battling her mental health problems.

"My mental health was really bad, I wouldn't talk to anyone, I couldn't trust anyone," she said.

Five years ago Ms Masters was introduced to her Step Together recovery coach.

"She stuck with me, even though at first I didn't really talk to her," said Ms Masters.

And it's now nearly a year since she moved into her own home.

"It's really nice, I didn't think I'd ever do this. There are no rules. It's mine," she added.

As well as being supported into her own home Ms Masters continues to receive therapy through Step Together, something she says she has never felt able to do before.

She's worried others may not get the same opportunities in future.

"There's people out there that need stuff like this. You can't just cut it off. I need it for my therapy; I'm never going to be 'well' but to get better than I am now.

"I didn't think I'd get this far. There's people out there that are at the point I used to be and I just want to make sure they get the help they need," she added.

Rooth Langston-Hart, a Step Together recovery coach and team leader, said she is "so proud" of what Ms Masters has achieved.

"Kayleigh's not had the best start in life - through no fault of her own she landed where she landed.

"But she's been determined to keep going when I think a lot of people would curl up in a ball and give up.

"To see her now in her own place with her dog is amazing. I didn't think we'd get to this point," Mrs Langston-Hart said.

Earlier this year, Step Together, which is run by charity Second Step, was told its £840,000 of funding was at risk as Somerset Council struggled to balance its budget.

It has now been given a one-year reprieve but the charity said because it helps the most vulnerable people, for the long term, its clients need a more secure commitment.

Mark Brown, Senior Operations Manager, said the "relational journey" with its clients is really important.

"They've often experienced a lot of trauma in the past and felt let down by services and they're used to people, generally, leaving them," he said.

"So our work relies on being able to work with a client for as long as they need us to.

"Only having funding for 12 months means we are already having to think about how we carefully manage endings for our clients."

Mr Brown said there is also a financial benefit to other organisations. For example there has been a reduction in A&E admissions for its clients who, as a result of the support they receive, are less likely to end up in crisis.

Somerset Council says it hopes to commission a similar service in future but does need to save money, having declared a "financial emergency".

It is looking at all the non-statutory services which the council is not legally required to provide, including this one.

Cllr Sarah Wakefield, lead member for adult services, said she was "very proud" of the work Step Together does.

"I don't think that people should feel too worried about it, because we know it's valuable.

"The thing they should be worried about is the fact there isn't enough money for all the services we want to provide.

This is not a statutory service, we not are obliged to provide it, but we know it's really important," Ms Wakefield added.

The government said it had given councils in England a 6.5% increase in funding, meaning a total of £64bn would be made available to councils for 2024-25.

It also announced, in January an extra £500m to help fund children's and adult social care.

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