Celebrating 21 years of helping the homeless

From the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, first published Friday 16th Apr 2004.

A SCHEME that has helped thousands of homeless people turns 21 this year.

The Housing Link, formerly Bury Young People's Housing Link, hopes that many of its former users will get in touch to help them celebrate their milestone.

Since the project began in 1983, it has gone from strength to strength, providing places for people to live and better support as they are rehoused.

The Housing Link has grown from a single house on Walmersley Road in Bury to enough accommodation for almost 50 people on five sites across the borough.

When the project began, staff catered only for young people, but now work with anyone aged 16 and over.

Staff support people for up to two years to help them find their own accommodation and suitable places to stay in the borough.

The idea came in November 1983 after a steering group noticed a rise in the number of young homeless people in the area.

Staff member Bill Lees started work with the Housing Link in 1984, and says that the job was much different then.

He said: "We were more like caretakers then, just looking after the accommodation being used by lots of people. There was no work done with the actual people themselves."

Norma Holt, who has worked for the scheme for around 13 years, said: "We now have a very skilled and well developed team to deliver the services.

"Since it started, the ethos has been to have belief in people, to rebuild their life and reach their potential. That still continues today."

The birthday party to celebrate the 21 years will take place at the Elizabethan Suite at the town hall in November.

The staff and team members are hoping that former residents that have accessed the services of the scheme will get in touch and attend the special event.

For more information contact Bill Lees on 723 2040 or Norma Holt on 761 6660, or log onto www.byphl.co.uk

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