Project Information
Sanctuary Trust Emergency Provision
Emergency Overnight Accommodation
Providing overnight accommodation for homeless people
Contact [email protected] for further information or to make referral telephone Rochdale Borough Housing Homelssness Team on 0300 303 8548
7 beds, communal lounge area, shower rooms, kitchen
Open from 7pm ’til 9am every night
- Safe and secure bed
- Light supper
- Shower/bathroom facilities
- Breakfast
- Signposting service
Referrals can be made through:
Rochdale Homelessness
Interview with Jody Rowley, Team Leader at STEP, on Monday 14th May 2018
Interviewed by / notes edited by Colin Atkinson
FIRST, PLEASE CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHAT YOUR JOB IS?
My name is Jody Rowley and I am the Team Leader at the STEP Project on Milnrow Road. I have worked for The Sanctuary Trust on and off for the last 10 years and prior to 2013 worked as a Key Worker at Halsall House.
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US A BIT ABOUT STEP AND HOW IT BEGAN?
Since 2013, the STEP Project has provided emergency night provision for homeless individuals aged 18 years and over in the Rochdale area. The project has 4 staff members and 1 volunteer. The staff provide support to the service users through action planning and, through working alongside the homelessness team at St Alban’s, we try to maximise positive move ons for the people who access our service. The people who access our service come from a variety of backgrounds and each comes with a diverse range of needs and as a service we try to cater for those to the best of our ability. Many of the struggles we see can range from relationship breakdowns, substance misuse issues, bereavements, loss of employment and lack of life skills in order to run a home.
CAN YOU TELL US WHY YOU THINK STEP IS IMPORTANT / NEEDED?
The project is incredibly important as it caters for those individuals who have had the door closed on them and they have nowhere to go. The STEP is needed as it provides individuals with the opportunity to accept help and support to try and get back on their feet again and reintegrate in the community.
CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE POSITIVES OF WORKING AT STEP?
Lots!! The staff are fantastic, the residents drive me nuts and the challenges are endless … but for me, personally, I find it is very satisfying to see a person come into the project where they feel they have reached their lowest point in life and to watch them progress and build in confidence, eventually move on to their own tenancies is very nice to see. I wish sometimes that I could do “floating support” as an excuse to go and see how they are doing, what their homes look like and how they have built the foundations. I really love it when they come back and tell us how they are getting along. We get to meet some really interesting characters here at the STEP and every shift is different. I enjoy listening to people’s stories and what they have been up to throughout their lives – some people have been on adventures that you could never imagine, you wouldn’t believe some of the stories I have heard! Working at the STEP makes me feel grateful and fortunate as every person deserves a chance to a good start.
CAN YOU TELL US SOME OF THE NEGATIVES OF WORKING AT STEP?
Cleaning! But that aside there have been challenging moments. It can be frustrating to see someone not use their strengths for positive outcomes but unfortunately some individuals are not quite in the right mind set or are not quite ready to address their lifestyle choices at that moment.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FUTURE OF STEP?
I don’t know. In terms of funding, we have been managing and getting by on the little funds that we have but I would like to think that the STEP will remain a firm starting point for those who are in need of our services and, as a service, we are able to develop further to be able to offer more support to the people who access it.
THANK YOU, JODY
