A Stoke-on-Trent homelessness programme that has supported 107 people since 2023 will continue for at least another two years after the city secured £586,601 in government funding.
The Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme, known as SHAP, provides accommodation and specialist support for people who are sleeping rough or at risk of doing so. Stoke-on-Trent City Council said the funding will allow the service to run through to March 2029.
The programme is delivered by Brighter Futures and is aimed at people whose housing problems are often tied to complex needs, including long-term rough sleeping, health pressures, trauma, substance misuse, or a lack of stable support networks.
Support for rough sleepers and vulnerable young people
SHAP works with two groups identified as being at high risk of repeated homelessness: long-standing rough sleepers with complex cases, and vulnerable young people who are homeless or sleeping on the streets.
The model is built around stable accommodation and one-to-one help rather than short emergency placements. Residents are supported to keep their accommodation, rebuild confidence and develop practical life skills needed for independent living.
That can include help with routines, budgeting, tenancy responsibilities, appointments, benefits, health needs and the steps needed to move toward less intensive housing support.
For people who have spent long periods without a secure home, the continuity of support can be as significant as the accommodation itself. The council said the scheme focuses on long-term outcomes, with the aim of reducing the chances of people returning to rough sleeping.
£586,601 award keeps SHAP running to March 2029
The new government funding award totals £586,601. It extends the current scheme through to March 2029, giving the city and its delivery partner a longer window to keep placements and support arrangements in place.
The programme began in 2023 and has helped 107 people so far. The council said a number of those using the service have already moved on into regular housing with lower levels of support.
The extension also fits into Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s wider homelessness strategy, which places emphasis on prevention, stability and early intervention. The council says that approach can reduce reliance on crisis responses, including emergency hotel placements, which are often costly and less suited to people with complex needs.
Programme impact in Stoke-on-Trent
Supported accommodation can be especially important when people need more than a roof over their head. For some rough sleepers, the barriers to keeping a tenancy can include untreated health issues, isolation, poor previous experiences with services, or repeated disruption after short-term placements end.
SHAP is designed to give people a safer base while support workers address those barriers over time. The council said the programme has had a clear positive impact, including helping some residents move into regular housing.
Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning, improvement and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said the scheme had already played an important role in helping vulnerable people in the city.
“The work the SHAP scheme has already achieved in helping vulnerable people in our city is so important, which is why I am pleased it will continue to support rough sleepers and their complex needs until March 2029,” he said.
He added that supported accommodation delivers better outcomes for individuals and can ease pressure on temporary housing and other frontline services.
Longer-term homelessness prevention
The continuation of SHAP means Brighter Futures can keep working with people who may otherwise face repeated cycles of rough sleeping, temporary accommodation and crisis support.
The council has framed the scheme as part of its prevention work, linking housing stability with wider goals around health inequalities and living standards in Stoke-on-Trent.
Robinson said: “It has changed people’s lives for the better and has become an integral part of homelessness prevention in Stoke-on-Trent as we continue to work to reduce health inequalities and create a healthier standard of living for all.”
Source: Stoke-on-Trent City Council
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This article is based on the published Stoke-on-Trent City Council notice and preserves the stated figures, dates and named organisations.
- Confirmed the programme name as Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme.
- Checked the stated funding amount of £586,601.
- Checked the reported total of 107 people helped since the programme launched in 2023.
- Confirmed the extension period runs through to March 2029.
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- Stoke-on-Trent City Council
- Scope
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Updated
- 2026-06-03 23:18
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