A South Yorkshire-based homelessness charity has used fire service funding to support vulnerable homeless people whilst simultaneously providing fire safety advice.

Crisis Skylight South Yorkshire partnered with South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) to help 300 homeless people to better understand how to find and sustain a tenancy, improve their housing situation and provide safety advice to prevent fires.

The project aims to improve the tenancy skills of homeless people, many of whom have never lived in private rented accommodation before.

The charity works with the fire service to identify single homeless people who are considered very vulnerable due to their physical and mental health, their lack of tenancy skills and their inability to secure quality housing. Support workers then ensure the tenant receives all the support and guidance they need to find and sustain a tenancy, including arranging for safety checks to be carried out, fitting smoke alarms and helping them to source fire safe electrical goods.

The project was awarded £82,789 under South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Authority’s funding scheme, the Stronger Safer Communities Reserve (SSCR).

Station Manager Darren Perrot said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for SYFR to work with some of the most vulnerable people in South Yorkshire, and help those in need who we haven’t been able to reach previously. Crisis is a great charity which offers these people a chance at living a comfortable life, and if we can educate them in how to prevent fires at the same time then it benefits everyone. This is why the SSCR fund was set up and it’s brilliant to see the direct benefits within the local community.”