Project Description

Imagine being ready to leave the hospital, only to find you have nowhere safe to go. Without stable housing, recovery becomes nearly impossible, and the cycle of crisis and readmission continues.

 

This is the reality facing hundreds of people in Luton every year. SIG Penrose STEPS (STEPS) exists to break that cycle.

 

STEPS is our essential accommodation assessment and support service. It ensures that people leaving mental health wards have a safe place to call home. We work with over 180 people annually, preventing homelessness and supporting lasting recovery within the community.

 

When someone is ready for discharge but has nowhere to go, hospital stays extend unnecessarily, costing the NHS hundreds of pounds per day and preventing others from accessing the care they need. More importantly, without a safe place to stay, people are much more likely to experience mental health relapses and return to the hospital within months.

 

STEPS guarantees that every person leaving mental health wards in Luton has appropriate accommodation waiting for them, along with community support to help rebuild their lives independently.

 

Your support helps us prevent homelessness, reduce costly hospital readmissions, and provide people with the foundation for lasting recovery.

Mature man talking with visiting professional

Supported By

Recent Recognition

How We Create Change

Our specialist STEPS Worker meets with people within 48 hours of hospital admission, working alongside ward staff to plan for safe, supported discharge from day one.

  • Housing Solutions

    We secure suitable accommodation for each individual, whether they are returning to their own home, moving to supported housing, or accessing emergency accommodation while waiting for permanent solutions.

  • Benefits Navigation

    Our expertise in housing law, benefits systems, and local authority processes ensures people receive the support they are entitled to quickly and efficiently.

  • Community Connection

    We connect individuals with local support services, from our own Synergy floating support to mental health teams, ensuring no one faces recovery alone.

  • Ongoing Support

    Unlike hospital discharge teams, we maintain contact for a full year after discharge, checking in at 3, 6, and 12 months to prevent relapses and readmissions.

  • Crisis Prevention

    We conduct housing assessments within 48 hours of admission to identify potential discharge barriers early and develop solutions before crises occur.

  • Direct Representation

    Our team advocates with local authorities and housing providers for individuals, attending appointments to ensure their voices are heard in important accommodation decisions.

Benefits to the Community

STEPS provides exceptional value for Luton by generating significant savings and transforming lives within our community. Every individual we support can save the NHS thousands of pounds; hospital beds cost over £400 per night, and delays in discharge caused by housing issues can prolong stays by weeks or months. By swiftly resolving accommodation needs, we free up vital mental health beds for those in crisis.

 

We prevent homelessness before it occurs. Every year, we support around 200 discharged people into suitable housing, with the vast majority moving into permanent residences rather than rough sleeping or unsuitable temporary arrangements. This prevents the costly cycle of street homelessness, emergency interventions, and repeated hospital admissions.

 

Our collaborative approach strengthens the entire mental health system in Luton. By working directly with Luton Borough Council’s housing teams and maintaining strong relationships with local accommodation providers, we can secure housing appointments and placements far more efficiently than individuals could manage alone.

 

Our Mental Health Housing Forum connections and expertise in complex housing needs help create a safety net that safeguards our community’s most marginalised individuals.

  • Preventing homelessness every day

    Since 2013, we have supported people leaving mental health wards with a 95% success rate, working with our network of over 300 support providers to reduce the average mental health ward stay from 35 to 19 days.

  • Proven results and exceptional value

    By reducing bed blocking, STEPS generates almost £1m in NHS savings each year - around a 3,000% return on investment from the cost of the service. Every pound donated prevents homelessness and creates lasting change when people need it most.

  • Your support is desperately needed

    With mental health admissions rising and more local support services closing, demand for STEPS continues to grow. Your donation helps us maintain this service, which is essential to safe hospital discharge.

What Our Particpants Say

“Between the ward and shortly after my discharge, my appointments with STEPS and their help have, in my case, literally been a lifesaver. And I’m not saying that for effect. I mean it.”

 

Michael, a previous STEPS participant

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Get in touch

1 Waterloo Gardens London N1 1TY

Telephone : 020 3668 9270

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