homelessness and ict support

Homeless Link – ICT Connections

Chippenham, 5 March 2008

Craig WeeksRichard Andrew

Homeless Link

National membership agency for frontline homelessness agencies in England

Policy Research and Development Campaigning and Representation Direct Support and Capacity Building

Innovations & Good Practice

Current projects include: ICT Connections Street Outreach handbook Rural Homelessness Invest To Save Toolkit Day Centre support Training programme for frontline staff

Rural Homelessness

Survey of needs and provisionResearch reportDirect support and provision of

good practice information

Rural Homelessness – the issues

Lack of accommodation Funding/costs Referral routes/statutory provision Lack of specialist support services Partnership working Access to services Proving need for services Staffing

Rural Homelessness

For more information, contact Richard Andrew

at richard.andrew@homelesslink.org.uk

Full report and good practice information available at www.homeless.org.uk

ICT Connections

Initial survey of ICT needs and provision of frontlineagencies, informing a range of advice and support: Good practice online Direct support and advice on service development Provision of useful, affordable resources Regional networking and good practice events Report, to inform Homeless Link’s future project

work and support

ICT Connections

For more information about Homeless Link’s ICT

Connections Project, visit www.homeless.org.uk/developyourservice/topics/ICT

or email craig.weeks@homelesslink.org.uk

Rural ICT – Good Practice

Remote access:Young Devon has a secure online database

that means support staff don’t need to be office-basedSHYPP has an online intranet allowing

remote access to shared files, policies and email

Rural ICT – Good Practice

Alternative methods of contact:Breckland District Council has an email based text messaging service for appointment remindersThe Contact Centre’s advice service is accessible by telephone, email and videolink via council officesJulian Housing and Shelter NE have centralised

mobile phone systems for safe remote working

Rural ICT – Good Practice

Online networking:HAYH and Mortarnet are examples of regional online networks providing opportunities for agencies to access partnership working, peer support, forums, jobs and trainingA procurement website in Y&H advertises events and procurement opportunities and provides tender documents and advice

Rural ICT – Good Practice

Social enterprise:Eden Foyer runs a public access cyber café

and hires out its IT suite and training rooms to

other community groupsJamie’s Computers recycles, refurbishes and resells computers