The Deposit Protection Service (the DPS) has donated another £20,000 to charities in three locations across England.
The UK’s largest provider of deposit protection services has given £10,000 to Calderdale SmartMove in Halifax, £5,000 to No Limits, in Southampton and £5,000 to Bosco House in Merseyside.
It stablished a fund in 2014 to assist charities that support the homeless and those who need help to live independently.
Daren King, head of tenancy deposit protection at the DPS, said: “We’re really glad to be able to support these three fantastic charities, all of which provide really important assistance to local people.
“Since the launch of our charity fund the DPS has given £160,000 to housing charities and we’re delighted to continue to fund such crucial work.”
The DPS’ donation to Calderdale Smartmove will help provide secured bonds to private landlords and house another 23 individuals and families.
Craig George at Calderdale Smartmove said: “For many people, finding long-term accommodation is extremely challenging, and by giving more individuals and families a helping hand, we can make sure more people have somewhere safe and comfortable to live.
“We’re really grateful to the DPS for the funding, and it’s great to work with organisations that share Calderdale Smartmove’s ethos.”
Bosco House is a small charity that provides bed spaces to single, homeless men, many of whom have substance misuse problems, mental health issues and have an offending background, and the DPS’ donation will help open a new hostel in Sefton that will house 13 homeless young people.
James Heller, a senior worker at Bosco House, said: “We are extremely delighted and grateful to the DPS for the funding provided for our new hostel.
“The funding provided will go a long way towards providing a safe and secure environment for our clients and will contribute to rebuilding lives and combating homelessness in Merseyside.”
No Limits aims to relieve and prevent suffering caused by mental or physical ill-health or by social or economic circumstances amongst local young people with an information, advice and counselling service.
The DPS’ donation will fund Homemaker Volunteer courses designed to teach skills that will improve the likelihood of young people staying in their homes, such as cooking on a budget, cleaning and money management.
Paul Salter, team leader for floating support at No Limits, said: “We’re really grateful to the DPS for the money, which will really help us empower young people to truly enjoy their new homes.
“Some of the young people we work with have never had the welcoming, comfortable home that many of us take for granted, and we want these young people to feel like they have a home of which they can be proud.”