South Yorkshire homeless people given fire safety advice

A South Yorkshire-based charity which helps people living on the streets has used a cash windfall to give homeless people key advice on housing and fire safety matters.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Aug 2016, 09:44 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 16:20 BST
From l to r:- Station manager Darren Perrot, councillor Bob Johnson from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and Mandy Carlson from Crisis Skylight.From l to r:- Station manager Darren Perrot, councillor Bob Johnson from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and Mandy Carlson from Crisis Skylight.
From l to r:- Station manager Darren Perrot, councillor Bob Johnson from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority and Mandy Carlson from Crisis Skylight.

Crisis Skylight South Yorkshire was awarded an £82, 789 grant from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority’s Stronger Safer Communities Reserve funding scheme to deliver a project to help 300 homeless people to better understand how to find a tenancy and how to prevent fires.

Station manager Darren Perrot said the project would likely lead to the reduction of many potential fires in the community.

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He added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue to work with some of the most vulnerable people in South Yorkshire, and help those in need who we haven’t been able to reach previously. “Crisis is a great charity which offers these people a chance at living a comfortable life, and if we can educate them in how to prevent fires at the same time then it benefits everyone.

“This is why the SSCR fund was set up and it’s brilliant to see the direct benefits within the local community.”

The project aims to improve the tenancy skills of homeless people, many of whom have never lived in private rented accommodation before.

The charity works with the fire service to target single homeless people who are considered vulnerable due to their physical and mental health, their lack of tenancy skills and their inability to secure quality housing.

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Support workers then ensure the tenant receives all the support and guidance they need to find and sustain a tenancy, including arranging for safety checks to be carried out, fitting smoke alarms and helping them to source fire safe electrical goods.

Members of the public can get access to free smoke alarms as part of the fire service’s home safety check programme.

To book a visit from firefighters contact 0114 253 2314 or email [email protected]