Lansdowne Hostel

Where is the project?

The project is situated in Lansdowne Road off Wellesley Road in Croydon - View Contact Details

Who is it for?

Lansdowne provides supported housing to single homeless people between the ages of 16-65, who have medium support needs. Customers living at Lansdowne Hostel reflect the diversity of the local population.

Some of the reasons for applying to the project are family breakdown, unemployment, experience of substance or alcohol misuse, mental wellbeing problems, lack of a support network, lack of training and education, as well as those who have been street homeless.

The purpose of the project is to work with customers towards agreed goals including gaining independent living skills, and being able to sustain a tenancy when they move on from Lansdowne Hostel. Lansdowne works closely with CRIAS which is a local rent deposit scheme for private sector accommodation.

How can I get a place there?

All referrals must be made via SNAP based at Croydon Council, which is also accessed via Probation, HAP25, winter rolling shelters and SLAM.

All agencies will complete an application form and risk assessment for the applicant. Staff at Lansdowne Hostel then interview the applicant, and if it is agreed we can work with the customer, either offer a room if there is a vacancy, or put them on a waiting list.

The average stay is between six months and two years.

What are the facilities?

The project has 120 units of accommodation with the use of a launderette. Rooms do not have cooking facilities, but there is a subsidised canteen that provides breakfast and an evening meal. Staff support is provided 24 hours a day. Social activities are arranged occasionally by both staff and service users.

What support do I get?

Staff work with all residents to ensure that they develop the skills to be able to live independently in the future. Such skills might involve the ability to budget, knowing about and obtaining welfare benefits, cooking, shopping, sustaining and maintaining a tenancy, signposting to training centres, local surgeries, help and advice from other agencies etc.

Key workers meet with customers at monthly key work sessions. The 24 hour staffing system ensures that there is a regular continuity of service.

Additionally there are resources such as weekly drop in’s provided by Westminster Drugs Project, CALAT for literacy and maths, Broadening Horizons employment and training resource, PCT nurses for advice and signposting, and an advisor from Job Centre Plus.

We aim to have regular customer meetings to deal with any issues arising from the running of the project and to help continuous improvement of the service. There are also occasional women-only meetings.

Back to 'Housing The Homeless'