| Where is our supported
housing? |
| Open
Door is based in three houses in the High Street in
Newmarket, a few minutes walk from the town centre shops
and on the main bus routes to Bury and
Cambridge. |
| What is the accommodation
like? |
Cranworth House
(left) and Windsor House (right) |
| Portland House is a three-storey
house at 188 High Street in Newmarket. There are now
nine bed sitting rooms with shared bathrooms. Residents
also have use of a television lounge with cable service,
a large kitchen equipped with a double oven, microwave,
refrigerator, freezer and washing and drying facilities,
two bathrooms and two toilets.
Cranworth House adjoins
Portland House at 186 High Street and the ground floor
contains the office and staff overnight
accommodation. The first floor currently has one
bed sitting room but on completion of a redevelopment
there will be a further three rooms with a link to
Portland House.
Windsor House at 184
High Street adjoins Cranworth House and currently houses
two residents who have their own kitchen, lounge and
bathroom. Open Door is also planning conversion works to
accommodate a further two
residents. |
| Who can
apply? |
| Single people
aged between 16 and 30 can eligible to apply. Priority
is often given to local applicants from the Newmarket
area, Forest Heath District and East Cambridgeshire.
However, the accommodation is not exclusive to these
areas and applicants from elsewhere have been successful
if a need is demonstrated. |
| How to
apply? |
| Prospective
residents must complete an application
form themselves or can be referred by a family
member or support organisation such as the local
councils including Forest Heath and East Cambridgeshire,
Connexions, National Children’s Homes, the Probation
Service and Western Compass.
The Manager and Deputy
of Portland House interview all applicants to assess
their suitability, taking into account their experience,
current housing if any and aspirations for their future.
Decisions are then made by a panel composed of two
trustees of Open Door and a representative of Forest
Heath District Council and Suffolk Housing Society
considers following recommendations to the General
Manager.
Successful applications
are ranked according to housing need. Decisions
are often made in advance in order to fill vacancies as
soon as they occur. |
| How long will an
application take? |
| The length of
time is dependent upon current residents moving on. Open
Door does its utmost to plan ahead to predict vacancies
to house successful applicants as soon as
possible. |
| How much is the
rent? |
| The rent is
£90.00 per week and includes all service charges such as
heating, electric light and water. If a resident is on
JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) or Income Support then most
of the rent is paid by Housing Benefit to the maximum of
£75.00 leaving residents to pay only £15.00 per week.
Residents who are in work may receive assistance from
Housing Benefit in proportion to their income. Staff
give advice and assist with benefit
applications.
The support element of
the accommodation is funded through a contract with
Supporting People Suffolk with additional funds provided
by Open Door. Residents who are not working are
encouraged to participate in voluntary work, helping to
raise funds and engendering self-respect through
meaningful activity. |
| What other help is
available? |
| Open Door also
provides basic foods and beverages such as tea, coffee,
squash, potatoes, bread, eggs and a variety of food
donated by local people, Marks & Spencer when
available and the Cambridge
Foodbank.
Each room is furnished
and Open Door is also able to assist with bedding,
clothing, toiletries and home electrical goods for those
in greatest need.
Open Door is a gateway
to other support agencies and can assist
with:
- Job searches
- Career advice
- Information on courses and
training
- Managing money and debts
- Court appearances
- Social activities
- Applications for move-on
accommodation
|
| What must residents not
do? |
| As well as
paying rent there are a number of conditions of living
at Portland House that are important to protect each
resident’s right to the quiet enjoyment of their
accommodation and encourage self-sufficiency and
independence.
Overnight guests are
not allowed and visitors are only permitted from 4.30pm
to 10pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 10pm at
weekends.
Alcohol and illegal
drugs are banned and the use or storage on the premises
will result in the termination of the
licence.
Violent and offensive
behaviour, physical and verbal, to staff or other
residents are not tolerated and will also result in an
eviction. |
| What must residents
do? |
| Pay the
rent.
Rooms must be kept
clean and reasonably tidy and regular inspections are
undertaken.
And do your own washing
up! |
| Why do we do
this? |
| Open Door aims
to provide a home for young people, supervised with a
light touch with timely and proportionate help and
assistance. This can be the second and third
chance for some people that may help draw them away from
antisocial and damaging activities and encourage
self-respect to the mutual benefit of all. It dos not
work for everyone and it may not work first time round
but for many it has been a lifeline to a better place.
Portland House is not just a hostel: many have been
pleased to call this their home. |