Network Homes has made the top three in the London Homelessness Awards

We are excited to be a finalist in the London Homelessness Awards. Project Vista is one of the three winning projects in this year’s awards and will be in line to receive one of the three financial awards in October.

First place is £30,000, second place £20,000 and third place £10,000 and the money will be invested further in the project.

Project Vista is an innovative partnership between Network Homes and New Horizon Youth Centre (NHYC). The project was launched in 2016 with the aim of helping homeless young people across London by giving them a stable place to live whilst they improve their employment situation, and save enough money to become self-sufficient.

There are currently four flats which we own but are managed by NHYC with 20 young people living in the flats in Islington and Hackney. Each flat has bedrooms with en-suite facilities and there are communal kitchens and living areas.

The rooms are allocated to young people by NHYC and individuals are able to live in the property for one year, with ongoing support from the Centre to improve their employment situation and life skills. After this time, NHYC helps them move into the private rented sector or they are assessed for other Network Homes accommodation. One young person has already moved on and into other Network Homes accommodation, others have been able to take on full-time work, promotions or training which they would otherwise have had to turn down due to being homeless.

The partnership’s unique combination of affordable accommodation, employment skills and independent living support for young Londoners and was expanded in April 2017 due to its initial success. The award ceremony takes place in October and we will find where in the final three we are ranked.

To find out more about New Horizon Youth Centre see here and for more information on Project Vista see here.