Path - Summary

Path Staff

As of Feb 06, Path is made up of:

1. Staff members

Mike Taylor (Director); Elaine Bentley (Finance Manager); Tracy Childs (Tenancy Support Team Leader); Ian Carrie (Pre-Tenancy Team Leader); Mike Leeder (Rough Sleeper Services Coordinator); Aidan Barlow (Outreach); Ruth McClennan (Outreach); Kate Medhurst (Bond Wkr); Denis Johnston (HomeFinder: Deposits for families); Sharron Newberry (Office Manager); Sam Dean (Admin Wkr); Linda Taylor (Housing Needs Wkr); Ghia Gambardella, Julian Barr, Karen Buckland, Nick Reid and Martin Robinson (Tenancy Support Wkrs).

Richard Belboda is the mental health social worker for the homeless, based with us. Path also contracts Plymouth Focus Advice Centre to provide benefits and money advice and support.

2. Board of trustees

Sue Hunting (Chair); Nick Thomas; Josie Wood; Kim Ansari; Councillor George Wheeler.

Path: Summary

Introduction

Plymouth Access to Housing (Path) is an independent housing charity. It was established ten years ago out of concern about the levels of homelessness in the early 1990s. During this time it has helped thousands of people in Plymouth, with a range of advice and support services to both access and maintain housing.

Path now offers a range of accommodation-based services, from work with rough sleepers through to support for people to maintain their tenancies.

Services

Path provides a range of pre- and post- tenancy specialist housing services for people who are homeless or who have housing and related need. Our provision includes:

an advice and assistance service for rough sleepers with referral to immediate temporary housing
housing advice and assessment for offenders and / or people using local drug treatment services
a rent deposit guarantee scheme for people who do not have the funds to access the private rented sector
a tenancy support service providing housing support to enable people to remain in their home

History

Our history and achievements since inception in 1995. Path:

Developed out of a concern about the level of homelessness in the early 1990s
In April 1995, issued the first deposit guarantee in Plymouth
Began to support clients in their homes in 1998
In 1999 started to manage the city’s rough sleepers Outreach service
In 2000, began to offer housing, accommodation, debt and welfare advice to Offenders
In 2002 secured Home Office funding to support substance users
Since 2000 supported over 500 vulnerable people with their housing needs
Each year helped 120 people to remain in their home
Has accommodated over 2000 people in the private rented sector
Developed a staff team now grown to 17

Contacts

Path, The Harwell Centre, 28-42 Harwell Court, Western Approach, Plymouth, PL1 1PY

Telephone: 01752 255889; Fax: 01752 293715

email: info@plymouthPath.org

Path services at Midland Hse (Bond and Deposit Guarantee), tel: 01752 305955.

Path/2005

Client Charter

We at Path:

Are committed to providing you with a confidential*, impartial and appropriate service. (*=There are exceptions, a copy of the Confidentiality policy can be obtained from the office).
Will be polite and respectful.
Will listen to what you have to say, advise you of the help we can give you and if necessary, refer you to a more appropriate service.
Aim to always be appropriate, within the Law and realistic.

In return Path expects that clients will:

Be polite towards us and our other clients
Not come to the service under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Keep your appointments or be in when we visit you and let us know when you cannot attend
Work with us to achieve your goals

If you are dissatisfied with any aspects of the service, or have any comments, please:

Raise the matter with your worker who will attempt to put the matter right. If this is not possible you may request a complaint form from either your worker or from our main office:

Harwell Centre
28-42 Harwell Court, Western Approach
Plymouth , PL1 1PY.

Telephone: 01752 255889

Fill in this form and send it in to the Director at the above address.

All complaints and feedback will be responded to within 7 working days

If you are still not satisfied with the response that you get to your complaint, then you can write to the chair of the trustees at the above address.