Following a successful pilot programme in 2007, the Greenhouse team hopes to provide more support for people from the ten most recent countries joining the European Union from Eastern Europe – the ‘A10’s.
Homelessness agencies face particular difficulties supporting this group because their ineligibility for benefits means they can’t pay for temporary accommodation unless they are earning.
But Greenhouse manager Martin Harris is keen to ensure that his team does what it can: “We can provide good support around issues such as money, health, registering for work and obtaining NI numbers, helping people to find their feet and regain their independence.”
During the pilot, which lasted ten weeks, over 50 Eastern European nationals were helped, 78 per cent of whom had multiple support needs.
