The fifth ‘Starts at Home Day’ is being held on the 3^rd September to celebrate the positive impact that supported housing has on thousands of lives every year. Chesterfield MP, Toby Perkins, visited a supported housing service in Staveley run by the Derventio Housing Trust to discuss the work they do and to offer his support for the ‘Starts at Home’ campaign.

Toby said, “I was delighted to be invited by Derventio to come and see first-hand the work they are doing in Chesterfield. From speaking to my constituent, Jamieson Frost, about the support he receives, and the positive effect this has had on his life, health and future opportunities, it is clear that these services can have a transformative effect on people’s lives and happiness.

By providing Jamieson with a safe home, with a really dedicated support worker in Jenny, he now has that stable basis he needs to move on and live an independent, fulfilling life.”

Derventio Housing Trust have 7 units of accommodation in Chesterfield offering safe and secure accommodation with intensive housing management to support people to develop independent living skills, keep their home and ultimately reduce the risk of them facing homelessness again.

Derventio’s assistant director Jackie Carpenter said, “It’s wonderful to see Jamieson doing so well through our Healthy Futures project, which Chesterfield Borough Council funds to help the hospital discharge people who are fit to leave but have no home.

“He’s working so hard and it’s really paying off.”

Toby added, “Supported housing workers have been on the frontline during the pandemic and deserve our recognition and support. We need the Government to commit more funding to supported housing so that Derventio and other organisations can continue with their vital work.

“Supported housing not only helps keep people safe and transforms individual lives, but it also improves communities, reduces the impact on other services and saves money in the long-term.”