About C.A.S.S.
Our strategic aims

Our overall aim is to reduce homelessness among offenders To see if we are effective we monitor our performance against the following strategic aims (which are also in our Business Plan)

1. Improve the accommodation situation of people referred to the project. We provide a range of accommodation support services which all play a part in achieving this aim for as many people as possible. We provide: temporary supported accommodation - for those without accommodation, floating support - mainly to those with accommodation to prevent loss of that accommodation and help them cope better with managing their accommodation, short-term support services - which mainly focus upon assisting people to access accommodation and advice services - about housing and benefit problems.

We monitor whether we have managed to improve the accommodation situation of those referred to the project.

2. Enable homeless people have a period of stability. We recognize that the first step for many homeless people is to have a period of stability – and they can then begin to make choices and plan for their future. We also recognize that people will relapse into past behaviour. Achieving a period of stability does represent significant change and progress for many people.

We monitor how long people manage to maintain the temporary accommodation we provide - for many to do this for longer than six months is a real achievement.

3. Reduce the type of behaviour which in the past has led to people offending or losing their accommodation. We work to assist people reduce behaviour which affects their ability to access and sustain accommodation – some people who access our services have a range of problems which have contributed to their accommodation problems.

We monitor whether people were convicted of any offences and whether they have managed to make progress in dealing with any problems they may have with alcohol and/ or other drugs during the period of our contact with them.

4. To improve people’s ability to manage their own accommodation. We work with people on the range of skills they need to maintain what accommodation they have – this can include the skills needed to manage money, deal with the gas, electric and water companies, get the help they may need from other specialist support agencies but also involves encouraging people to look after the accommodation they have properly and to keep it as a place they want to be.

We monitor whether people did manage to change and improve in these areas.

5. Work collaboratively with other agencies to promote the interests of homeless people, those who have offended and those with problems with alcohol and / or other drugs. This is so that services are provided which help them and reduce the problems they cause in the community. We know that the people we work with are not always popular and can be difficult due to the range of personal problems they may have. However, we want to encourage other agencies to also try and assist as much as they can as we believe that accommodation gives homeless people the chance to change, reduce their offending and subsequently they and the public will benefit. We have a commitment to attend those meetings where agencies liaise and plan services and to provide information and support to agencies to help them work with homeless people.

We monitor the attendance of staff at such meetings to ensure we are keeping this commitment.