Project History and Context

Key House was established in 1985 as a 12 bed hostel for homeless young people. Our supported housing now includes a 12 bed Hostel for emergency use, three shared houses and 212 flats.

We opened the Keighley Housing Advice Office in 1986 in order to respond to homelessness more effectively, and we moved to the current office in September 2001. The Bradford Advice Service opened in 1990 and moved to its current office in March 2002.

In 2003/04 Key House advisers dealt with 10,252 matters and housed 385 young people.

Key House is one of 53 Non Statutory Housing Groups in the Bradford District which provide a range of housing for homeless people and people with support needs. There is good liaison between the groups and we meet regularly. Research initiated by Bradford's Housing Partnership in 2003 identified a need for more direct access accommodation for young people and more intensive housing support for people with challenging behaviour.

Key House provides the only comprehensive housing, accommodation and welfare benefits advice service in the district and enjoys a reputation for expertise and professionalism. From its outlets in Keighley and Bradford it has been able to provide a service to the whole of the district.

The Bradford Community Legal Services Partnership encourages all advice agencies to work towards the Legal Services Quality Mark. Key House has this recognition since 1998 and provides support and training to other agencies so that they can meet the required standard.

The Bradford Metropolitan area has a growing population. The 2001 census showed a population of 467,900 in 183,500 households. It is estimated that there will be an increase of 15,000 households by the year 2010 - mainly from the Asian communities. Poverty in Bradford is still a major problem, with 44% of the District's children living in low income households - (national figure of 26.7%).

In March 2003 all Local Authority properties were transferred to 6 local Housing Trusts. Early indications are that the housing choices for young single people are now more restricted as many blocks now have age restrictions.

Social Housing accounts for 17% of the housing stock and 9% of Bradford households are in privately rented accommodation (approx. 16,500).. The bulk of this is in the lower end of the housing market and 21% is unfit.

Minority ethnic communities comprise 21% of the population (Pakistani 15%, Indian 3%, with Bangladeshi, African, and Black Caribbean making the other 3%).

The Housing Act (2002) placed a statutory duty on Local Authorities to formulate a homelessness strategy, to provide housing for homeless people aged under 18 and advice and assistance to all people in housing need. This advice service is not currently funded at an effective level and Audit Commission's Best Value Inspection raised lack of proper co-ordination of this services as a matter of concern in their 2002/03 Report 03.