A Nottingham supported living service is set to close due to council funding cuts, leaving residents like Ellie Humphreys, who is celebrating eight years of sobriety, facing an uncertain future. The closure of The Crescent and Hughendon Lodge will impact 52 residents, raising concerns about their well-being and access to essential support.
Ellie Humphreys, a 24-year-old from Nottingham , is celebrating eight years of sobriety, a milestone she achieved thanks to the support she received at The Crescent, a supported living service run by the charity Framework. However, her joy is overshadowed by the impending closure of the service next month due to funding cuts by Nottingham City Council. Ellie fears the closure will put countless lives at risk, abandoning individuals who desperately need help.
The council stated that they will work with those affected, guiding them towards suitable services. These funding cuts will impact 52 residents across two supported living sites, with Hughendon Lodge in Mapperley also facing closure on March 31st. Framework, who claims to have been uninformed about the council's decision, expressed their deep concern, highlighting the emotional distress caused by the announcement. One resident was even admitted to a hospital under the Mental Health Act following the news. Ellie's story exemplifies the crucial role The Crescent plays in her life. She began drinking at the age of 16 as a coping mechanism, which eventually spiraled into addiction, destroying relationships and leading to periods of homelessness. The Crescent offered her a lifeline, providing 24-hour care for individuals with mental health conditions at risk of homelessness. It aims to empower individuals to live independently. Ellie recalls her previous experience in another supported living placement, where the lack of staff resulted in constant fights and police involvement. At The Crescent, she found a safe and supportive environment. She describes the staff as lifesavers, helping her break free from an abusive relationship that fueled her addiction. They were there for her during her withdrawal symptoms, providing constant comfort and support. Her mother, Jo, is immensely proud of Ellie's progress and devastated by the news of the closure. She fears for Ellie's well-being and expresses her concerns about the potential consequences of this decision. The manager at The Crescent, Tom Mole, and his 11-member team face the threat of redundancy, adding to the anxieties surrounding the closure. Tom emphasizes the dedication and compassion of the staff, who are driven by a genuine desire to help people. He criticizes the council's decision as short-sighted and potentially dangerous, as it could lead to increased homelessness among vulnerable individuals. Andrew Redfern, the charity's chief executive, warns that the funding cut will exacerbate the burden on other public services like housing, police, and employment. He expresses his disappointment that the council failed to acknowledge the potential for tragedy associated with inadequate mental health care in Nottingham, a city that has tragically witnessed such events in the past. Nottingham City Council, while declining to comment on individual cases, assures that every resident will receive an assessment to determine their specific needs. They maintain that the decision to terminate the contract was not driven by budget cuts but by a belief that the service was no longer delivering the best value or adequately meeting the residents' evolving needs. The council's justification, however, does little to alleviate the anxieties of residents like Ellie and the dedicated staff who fear for their future and the well-being of those entrusted to their care
Mental Health Supported Living Nottingham Council Funding Cuts Homelessness Addiction Recovery
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