Threshold Housing First
Referral Information
1. What is Housing First?
At its heart, Housing First has a recovery orientation that places the customer’s choice of housing and
support at the centre. The basic underlying principle of the Housing First model is that people are
better able to move forward with their lives if they are first housed in permanent self-contained
housing with wrap-around services as required. This is different from the prevalent “tenancy-ready”
thinking where offenders and others often move through a series of steps before being deemed to be
ready for their own independent accommodation. There is a strong body of evidence that Housing
First is a cost effective solution delivering strong outcomes for people with high support needs.
The service will put customers at the heart of what we do.
2. Who is the service for?
Housing First is a pilot project in Tameside, Stockport and Oldham, providing housing and support to

women

aged 18 or over

who have an offending history

who are homeless or a history of repeat homeless or at risk of losing their tenancy

who have complex needs

who have a local connection to Tameside, Oldham or Stockport and who want to live in one of
these areas.
3. Offending History
Women will be eligible if they are coming out of prison or are currently subject to supervision in the
community. We recommend that referrals be made to us between 10 and 20 weeks prior to
expected release.
4. Complex Needs
The service can be offered to women who have complex needs. An assessment of need for the
service will be made which is based on the development of an agreed ‘chaos index’ to identify
individuals to be supported.1 The index will be completed by the referring agency and will be based
on the following areas:
1
Developed from the New Directions Team Assessment (Chaos Index) April 2008
1. Engagement With Frontline Services
2. Intentional Self Harm
3. Unintentional Self Harm
4. Risk To Others
5. Risk From Others
6. Stress and Anxiety
7. Social Effectiveness
8. Alcohol / Drug Abuse
9. Impulse Control
10. Housing
The items in the assessment are rated on a 5-point response format with 0 being a low score and 4
being the highest score, there are two criterion where 0 is the lowest score and 8 is the highest.
There are 10 criterions in total each with 5 anchor points. Criterion 1 ‘Engagement With Frontline
Services’ tests the basic eligibility, if a score of 0 or 1 is achieved then the person is not eligible to be
assessed or considered by the team.
5. Local Connection
The service will be delivered in Oldham Tameside and Stockport. If you have a local connection to
one of these areas you may be eligible for support. We will consider you to have a local connection
if:

You live in the area
o If you have lived in the area for six months out of the past 12, or three years out of the
past five, you have a local connection or have done so prior to a custodial sentence.
o To have a local connection, you must have lived in the area by choice.

You have close family in the area
o You will have a local connection if you have close family who have lived in the area for
at least three years. Close family is usually limited to your mother, father, siblings or
children. You may have a local connection if you were brought up in the area by a
different family member such as an aunt, uncle or grandparent.

You work in the area
o You will have a local connection if you work in the area. Your employment doesn't
have to be full-time – part-time work counts. Self-employed people can have a local
connection if they mainly work in the area.

Other reasons
o There may be other special reasons that will be considered as a local connection.
Details will be required.
6. What type of support is offered?
Support workers and Peer Mentors will work with women to encourage engagement with
mainstream agencies and break down barriers and trust issues they may have previously faced.
Working in a person centred and holistic recovery focused manner, staff will offer support to enhance
or develop skills to maintain a tenancy. The level of support is flexible and determined by the needs
of the individual.
7. Who can refer?

Prison Services

Community Rehabilitation Companies

National Probation Service

Other Support Providers

Self-referrals
How to make a referral
For a referral form, please visit our website http://www.thp.org.uk/services/housing-first or contact us
by phone or email.
Completed referral forms can be sent directly to:
[email protected]
93 Woodpark Court
Whitebank Road
Limeside
Oldham
OL8 3JL
0161 652 9584