Introducing the Citadel Project: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness
Earlier this week, we were excited to meet with Sarah Bassett and Kirsty Dexter from Housing Justice team for the launch of their Citadel project in Cornwall.
Following a successful pilot in Wales in 2020, Cornwall was chosen among five other areas in the UK for the expansion of this innovative programme, which supports people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.
Through the help of volunteers, the project aims to help people find housing, sustain their tenancies and establish a home following their move from night shelters. During the pilot project in Wales, 90% of people remained engaged in the project, and 95% sustained their tenancies for at least 12 months after seeking support.
“The Citadel volunteers are pivotal to the success of our project. They provide emotional and practical support to individuals settling into a new home. They can help with setting up utility bills and sourcing furniture or simply sharing a coffee and showing that someone cares. We are also very attentive to our volunteers’ ideas and experiences which help us shape how we make a difference,” said Kirsty Dexter.
At this early stage of development, the team of coordinators has approached us to help them connect with relevant partner organisations locally and grow their network.
‘We were keen to meet the team at Transformation Cornwall after seeing their proactivity in connecting organisations with shared passions and goals, and their understanding of the specific pressures on communities across Cornwall. From our meeting, it was clear to see the need for in-tenancy support and the valuable impact volunteers can have in actively reducing homelessness,” said Sarah Bassett.
The Citadel Cornwall team is currently recruiting volunteers in the Truro, Camborne, Pool and Redruth areas, as well as collecting donations for essential items needed when setting up a home.
Volunteers are offered training, ongoing supervision and a chance to make a real difference in their communities whilst meeting like-minded, caring people at our regular volunteer events.
For more information visit: https://housingjustice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Citadel-Volunteer-Induction-CORNWALL.pdf
To apply to become a volunteer, you can complete the application form by clicking here.
If you have any enquiries, please contact Kirsty & Sarah, at CitadelCornwall@housingjustice.org.uk
