Jacob Rees-Mogg, MP for North East Somerset, has toured Curo’s supported homeless accommodation and retirement living housing to hear about the help Curo and their local authority partners provide to make sure homeless people have a safe place to stay this Christmas.

As part of the visit, on Friday, 9th December, Mr Rees-Mogg met colleagues and residents to share news of the difference that the right kind of supported housing has to offer to local people’s lives. He was able to catch up with colleagues about the help we offer to older people across Bath & North East Somerset

Mr Rees-Mogg visited in response to a letter from Curo to local MPs and councillors highlighting the positive role supported housing plays in helping people to live healthy and independent lives in North Somerset.

“I was fascinated to hear about the breadth of supported accommodation and services that Curo provide for homeless young people and families,” said Mr Rees-Mogg. “These essential services are a valuable safety net for vulnerable people in our communities, giving them warm and safe accommodation this Christmas as Curo supports them towards the stability of a permanent home.”

Harriet Bosnell, Managing Director of Curo Choice, said: “We were so pleased to be able to show Mr Rees-Mogg the secure and happy places that Curo creates for homeless families. We’re delighted that he had the chance to meet people and see the high-quality and amazing support offer that Curo has in place for homeless people, in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council and North Somerset Council.”

As part of their services, Curo provide emergency temporary accommodation to homeless single people and families. They offer supported accommodation and assist people with a wide range of issues to obtain and maintain a permanent tenancy in the future, to avoid coming through the system again.

Each year Curo helps over one hundred and twenty homeless households at three locations in and around Bath, and in flats throughout the area. They also have five services for forty eight homeless people in Weston-super-Mare.

Residents stay for different lengths of time: from a few weeks to about sixteen months. An average stay is usually five months to two years before people are rehomed permanently.

Curo work closely with other supporting agencies, such as drug and alcohol support services, children's centres, social services and mental health professionals. Their aim is to help residents manage a tenancy long term and integrate into a local community.

Father Christmas is visiting some of our young people on 21st December so we are looking forward to meeting him in person for a special event!

For more on Curo’s support services see www.curo-group.co.uk/independent-lives/ and: www.curo-group.co.uk/independent-lives/other-curo-services/temporary-accommodation/