During the winter of 2021/22, working in partnership with Cambridge City Council, ITAC provided management of Crossways, a property that included 20 individual en-suite rooms, as emergency accommodation for those sleeping rough in Cambridge. This offer was available irrespective of the weather and the status of the individual. Almost 60 rough sleepers were welcomed in, with 39 helped to secure next steps accommodation.
ITAC secured funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, supported by Housing Justice and Homeless Link. This, alongside existing City Council resources and support from partners, meant Crossways stayed open 24/7 from November through to the end of March.
Working closely with partner organisations including Cambridge Churches Homeless Project, St Andrew’s St Baptist Church and our network of volunteers we coordinated meals, laundry, practical help, pastoral care, and resettlement support. Evolve Guarding helped to keep everyone safe 24/7.
24-hour access offered guests more stability and continuity than under previous Winters ‘communal floors’ model, generating a sense they had both space and time to consider where they wanted to be in the longer term.
Many guests had declined, or struggled to sustain, previous offers of accommodation. They were supported to engage with specialist services including Jimmy’s, Wintercomfort, Cyrenians and Change Grow Live, who provided outreach at Crossways, addressing the issues that had most contributed to them becoming homeless.
Securing longer-term accommodation was the focus of the ITAC team, recognising that the available next stage accommodation was not necessarily the most appropriate. A person-centred approach was the aspiration and the outcomes achieved prove that it was the right approach.
We are incredibly grateful to CATS Global Schools for making the property available to us. Plans are already in place to reopen Crossways in time for Winter 2022/23.
“This shows the benefit of working together to achieve the common aim of helping rough sleepers off the street and find a fresh start”
Gerri Bird, Executive Councillor for Housing, Cambridge City Council
"The success of Crossways is a fantastic example of the power of working in partnership, and I'm delighted that plans are in place to provide these vital services again this coming winter. Thank you so much to all of the amazing people and organisations who work so hard to support homeless people in our city."
Cameron Holloway, Lead Councillor for Homelessness, Cambridge City Council
