Building on its established history in the social housing space, Grosvenor has established Grosvenor Hart Homes (GHH). GHH is a new social enterprise seeking to improve the life chances of vulnerable children, young people and families by providing high-quality, affordable homes alongside bespoke,
wrap-around support services, focusing on employment and wellbeing support. The initiative is premised on the understanding that a safe and secure home is fundamental to stability and that from this foundation, holistic support can boost individual and familial wellbeing, economic security and longer term prospects. A key feature of the model is the role of a ‘Family Assistant’, helping to coordinate access to the GHH service model and services offered by external partners, building strong, trusted relationship with tenants.
GHH is developing a 3-year proof of concept in the Chester area, with a small number of newly renovated homes. It is specifically aimed at supporting cohorts including care leavers, young people at risk of NEET and ‘vulnerable’ families, including those affected by mental health, trauma and domestic violence. In addition, a number of properties are available as affordable housing to those on the council’s housing register and as market rent properties, contributing to the development of a balanced community.
GHH has worked closely with the local authority to ensure the model aligns with and complements existing council priorities and processes. This has included the local authority helping to shape the suite of services designed locally and the GHH housing allocation process, supporting the identification of and assessment of suitable tenants via an innovative multi-agency matching panel. GHH has appointed specialist service design agencies, Dartington Service Design Lab and Engine Service Design, to design the range of evidence-based services offered, with continued input from both potential service users and national and local experts from the public, private and third sector. With the Family Assistant acting as a navigator, other services being developed include mental health and wellbeing support and life skills training, as well as a jobs brokerage and employment support service, which includes a business incubator. There is also an on-site flexible workspace, the Grosvenor Hart Hub, which is accessible both to tenants and the wider community. All of these services have been designed to integrate with and adapt to the local context.
The model will undergo continued iteration and improvement over the proof-of-concept period, informed by service users, best practice and capitalising on emerging technology, to ensure it is delivering on its ambition to provide high-quality services that enhance the life chances of children, young people and families. Over the next 10 years, GHH is looking to provide more than 750 homes in the north-west as well as in central London, aiming to create a model which can be scaled for wider benefit.
https://www.grosvenor.com/social-enterprise-7c340789406fcc48b14e0b99aff29a81