Wolverhampton scheme helps 122 people into safety

More than 120 people in Wolverhampton who were homeless, or close to losing their home, have been helped into safer accommodation through a year-long housing pilot.

The Winter Pressures Fund, delivered by Good Shepherd with City of Wolverhampton Council, supported 122 individuals over the past year. That total includes 99 people housed from homelessness and 23 people prevented from becoming homeless by moving into private rented accommodation.

The figures show a practical route into housing for people who may otherwise struggle to secure a tenancy, but they do not mean wider homelessness pressures in the city have eased. The project is one targeted intervention, built around deposits, rent in advance and support to help people keep their homes.

122 people supported through one Wolverhampton pilot

The project was set up as a 12-month pilot to tackle immediate housing need in Wolverhampton, with a focus on the private rented sector and other long-term accommodation.

Its reported outcomes were specific: 99 people moved from homelessness into housing, while 23 others were supported before they became homeless. That prevention work matters because people at immediate risk can often face the same barriers as those already without a settled home, including upfront rent costs, landlord concerns and support needs.

Good Shepherd worked alongside City of Wolverhampton Council and agencies including P3 Charity, The Haven and Wolverhampton Homes. Similar housing-led approaches are being used elsewhere, including rough sleeping support in Camden and supported housing work in Stoke-on-Trent.

The numbers behind the housing support

The scheme’s headline total is 122 people helped over the year. Of those, most were already homeless when they were housed, while a smaller group received support at the point when homelessness was imminent.

The project also aimed to reduce pressure on supported accommodation. By helping some people move into the private rented sector, beds in supported housing can be kept available for people with higher or more complex support needs.

Financial help was a central part of the model. The fund covered barriers such as housing deposits and rent in advance, costs that can stop people accessing private rentals even when they are ready to move.

Private landlords became part of the safety net

A key part of the Wolverhampton approach was direct work with private landlords. The source material names Mrs Matharu, a private landlord who currently provides homes for eight people supported through the project.

She said Good Shepherd’s involvement helped both landlords and tenants, particularly when people had experienced multiple disadvantages. Her account points to one of the project’s central ideas: landlords may be more willing to offer homes when support does not stop at the tenancy agreement.

That continuing support is important for tenants as well. Moving into accommodation is only the first step if someone needs help managing a tenancy, dealing with past instability or staying connected with services.

Support continues after someone gets the keys

Rich O’Leary, Homeless Prevention Team Leader at Good Shepherd, said the project showed what can happen when organisations work with a shared goal.

“Supporting people into accommodation is just one part of the journey, we also provide the ongoing support people need to sustain their tenancies and rebuild their lives,” he said.

Councillor Steve Evans, Deputy Leader of City of Wolverhampton Council and Cabinet Member for City Housing, said the partnership had provided timely, practical help to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The project will return under a new name

The Winter Pressures Fund has secured funding for another year, covering 2026 to 2027. It will continue under the new name Move on and Prevention Service.

The next phase will keep the focus on moving people into stable accommodation and preventing future homelessness, while maintaining partnerships with landlords, the council and local support agencies.

Source: City of Wolverhampton Council