In partnership with Camborne SOFA (Shifting Old Furniture Around) and GOFA(Good Old Furniture Available) in Penwith, RE:SOURCE are providing a furniture starter pack service to the homeless or recently rehoused.

Starting Out is a new partnership project that will help homeless people move into permanent accommodation and participate in supported volunteering activity.  Starting Out won funding through People's Millions, a program run by the Big Lottery and ITV.  Starting Out is also being supported by The Henry Smith Charitable Foundation. 

A common barrier preventing displaced families moving into vacant but unfurnished, permanent accommodation is not having access to essential furniture and appliances.  The cost of buying furniture to furnish a home was estimated, in 2005, by the Halifax Estate Agents to be £3,751 for 'essentials', £2,277 for 'nice to haves' and £2,165 for 'total luxuries'. Just buying the essentials is impossible for a household whose income just covers rent, food & bills.

Homelessness in Cornwall is often not visible yet there are about 1,500 cases of homelessness every year.  With the South West recognising the biggest increase in home repossessions, at almost double the national average, this figure is set to rise.

Homelessness effects the young and old, children, families and incorporates those sleeping in cars, on friends’ floors or sofas and those living in temporary accommodation such as hostels, refuges and B&Bs. 

Starting Out will provide starter packs that include items like cookers, sofas, beds, table & chairs, crockery & curtains. This pack will allow people to move into unfurnished properties and make the best start in their new home. 

The people receiving furniture starter packs will be encouraged to give back to the centres through participating in supported volunteering activity, making a significant contribution to increasing the reuse centre‘s capacity and maybe encouraging the beneficiaries to take part in accredited training aimed at getting them back in to work.

The volunteer opportunities the project will offer are invaluable as they help to build confidence, provide work experience and can be coupled with accredited training and employment support.  We are able to help homeless people to get a real new start in life. 

To find out more about the Starting Out project contact us