THE council’s new provider of housing and homeless support services claims it is now helping more than 500 people a day across the borough.

Forfutures, part of the ForViva Group, began a 10-year contract with Cheshire West and Chester Council worth around £23 million in April.

It replaced the four existing contracts with one integrated service to support those at risk of being homeless, those without secure accommodation and people sleeping rough.

A spokesman said: “On a daily basis forfutures is now supporting over 500 people that are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, providing a wide range of support from mediation to help them stay in their current home or to find an appropriate alternative.

“Through the Outreach Team, forfutures is also working in partnership with local agencies, including Outside In, to identify people that are sleeping rough and engage with them to provide the right level of support. This includes working with Share to use the ShareShop in Northgate Street as base from which to try to engage directly with people on the streets.

“As part of the service, forfutures makes travel arrangements for anyone that needs it to access emergency accommodation, provided through 12 emergency beds at Howley House in Blacon.”

The company says its outreach team is taking the service to those who are sleeping rough, working alongside other voluntary agencies in the city.

Staff are said to attend drop-in services at CATH Day Centre, City Mission, Campbell Hall and Share Shop.

“With this arrangement the outreach team are able to engage with people who call in to any of these agencies to receive support for their needs,” the spokesman said.

Forfutures is also delivering advice and guidance to people at risk of becoming homeless or who may need support to sustain their tenancy.

Some of these services are provided from Advice and Information Hubs on a drop-in basis at hubs in Chester, Northwich, Ellesmere Port and Winsford.

The spokesman said: “The focus of these hubs is on prevention – they are services for people at risk of becoming homeless to get help and advice on their housing situation to prevent homelessness before it occurs.”

Chester’s Hub is currently being run from Watergate Street, with a permanent location due to open on St John Street later this month. In addition there are two drop-in session in the Chester area:

Monday afternoons 1pm - 4pm at Wesley Church Centre, St. John Street, CH1 1DA

Friday afternoons noon - 2.30pm at Hawthorn House, Hawthorn Road, Lache CH4 8HX