News Maidstone Borough Council wins housing awards
Three projects within Maidstone Borough Council Housing and Economic Development teams have won housing awards along with a highly commended for a team member at the Kent Housing Group Excellence Awards 2019.
Three projects within Maidstone Borough Council Housing and Economic Development teams have won housing awards along with a highly commended for a team member at the Kent Housing Group Excellence Awards 2019.
The Homefinder project and the work on Lenworth House have won the Excellence in the Private Sector category and Kent’s first ‘Housing First’ project won the Excellent Partnership category for the work with Porchlight, Golding Homes and Medway Housing Society.
In addition Michael Collins, MBC Housing Advice Officer received ‘highly commended’ for the Excellent Young Professional of the Year category.
William Cornall, Director of Regeneration and Place at Maidstone Borough Council said:
"We are absolutely delighted to have won these awards and to have been recognised in this way. Our Housing team has worked so hard on these projects which all help improve the lives of Maidstone residents.”
The Homefinder project provides a private sector alternative to affordable housing, helping to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation. The Council has continued to innovate in order to support households to secure private sector accommodation.
The Maidstone Homefinder scheme works with private sector landlords to access excellent quality accommodation for homeless households being assisted by Maidstone Borough Council.
The Lenworth House development has seen Maidstone Borough Council recommence building housing, creating good quality homes let at market rents within the Council’s own housing company, Maidstone Property Holdings Limited.
Kent’s first ‘Housing First’ project works with Porchlight, Golding Homes and Medway Housing Society and provides entrenched rough sleepers with accommodation and support. The support provided is tailored to the individual, to ensure their tenancy is sustained for the long term.
Highly commended Excellent Young Professional of the Year – Michael Collins has worked tremendously hard and has managed to achieve some excellent outcomes for his customers. Michael has been recognised for his work in a climate which has seen a continued upward trend in homelessness.
Now in its 10th year, the KHG awards recognise and celebrate ‘excellence’ within the Housing sector and wider partnerships across Kent and Medway.