We are delighted to share the news that The Mears Foundation has donated a generous grant of £1,000 to Irvine Housing Association, part of the Riverside Group. This grant will support the Association’s new Housing First for Families project to help people rapidly move out of homelessness and sustain a tenancy with the assistance of additional support services.

Housing First is an approach that offers permanent, affordable housing as quickly as possible for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and then provides the supportive services and connections to the community-based supports people need to keep their housing and avoid returning to homelessness

Heather Anderson, Head of Service Delivery at Irvine Housing Association said, “The Housing First approach connects people back to a home as quickly as possible, while also providing services that people may need to be stable and secure. We were very keen to get this project off the ground as throughout the pandemic we have seen a growing need for this type of service. We would like to thank The Mears Foundation for supporting this project. This funding will help our Housing First families with travel costs, befriending activities for children in the households, and furniture items.”

Rhona Cameron, Senior Contracts Manager at MPS, part of The Mears Group applied for the funding on behalf of the Association. Rhona said, “The Foundation specifically looks to support programmes that have a positive impact on the lives of asylum seekers, older people and the homeless that tackle issues such as social exclusion, isolation, poverty, mental health and violence. We are delighted to support this initiative helping families to get back on their feet with a permanent home.”