Housing scheme celebrates successful first year
Released: 7 February 2008
Staff and service users have celebrated the first anniversary of a sheltered housing scheme for some of Wolverhampton’s most vulnerable people.
Lorien Close in Warstones, a development of four two-bedroom bungalows for people with learning disabilities and vulnerable older people, has proved a big hit with residents who are being helped to live as independently as possible.
And to mark the success of the scheme’s first year, they joined staff for a party at Park Hall Hotel on Tuesday, February 5.
Scheme manager Julie Green said: “We held the party to thank service users and staff and to celebrate the fact that Lorien Close has been so successful and that the service users are so happy with it.
“It has been a very positive 12 months. There was a bit of apprehension before Lorien Close opened because the prospective residents had lived in long term residential care for so long, but everyone has made the transition to supported living very well and they have really benefited from it.
“They love having their own place and they have all personalised their homes, which is really nice.”
Lorien Close is one of a growing number of supported housing schemes run by the city council located around Wolverhampton. Others can be found at Billy Wright Close, St Aidans Close, Bridge Street and Church Street, the latter of which opened at the end of November.
Lorien Close is run in partnership with Bromford Housing Association and Kathy Roper, the city council’s learning disability joint commissioning officer, said: “Lorien Close has proved tremendously successful, and we are delighted it has enjoyed such a good first year.
“Our aim is to give vulnerable adults more choice and independence in their lives and we are transforming local services to ensure they and their family carers can access the most appropriate services.
“These supported housing schemes are all about encouraging people to be as independent as possible – learning skills like looking after themselves and their flat, paying their bills including rent and food, being a good neighbour and being a part of the community.”
Issued by the press office.