The award will help to address the limited gender specific support for women in homelessness services in the city. This was a gap identified by the Crisis funded report from last year which looked at how homelessness in Oxfordshire should be addressed. The report can be accessed here: https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/homelessness-knowledge-hub/housing-models-and-access/oxfordshire-feasibility-study/

To award Aspire (Oxford) Ltd £5,000 for the establishment and running costs of a Women’s Hub, to provide gender specific support to women experiencing, at risk of, and recovering from homelessness. Aspire are working with The Gatehouse and the Lived Experience Advisory Forum to develop this service.

At the time of drafting the Cabinet report, £135,798 was left unallocated due to the uncertainties around what provision might be required in respect of the progress of the pandemic. The report delegates authority to the Interim Director of Housing in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder to agree revisions to the programme within the overall budget.

The only alternative option is to not take forward the development of the hub. Delivering improved gender specific homelessness services to women is a priority within the Rough Sleeping team’s service plan, so this option was discounted.

Paul Leo – Interim Director of Housing

In consultation with Stephen Clarke, Director of Housing and Cllr Diko Blackings – Cabinet Member for Affordable Housing, Housing Security and Housing the Homeless