The groundbreaking work of our homelessness specialist, Concrete, has been recognised with a national award shortlist this month.
Concrete is a finalist for Most Innovative Housing Provider at the Housing Innovation Awards.
The awards, which will take place in Birmingham in February, recognise the dedication and talent of individuals, teams and providers striving for excellence and innovation within the UK housing sector.
The nomination highlights Concrete’s innovative approach to housing solutions, particularly through their new trailblazing adapted 24/7 supported accommodation scheme, pictured below, which opened last year.
The disabled-friendly scheme includes 14 private, ensuite studios with wide doors, wet-room facilities and a low-level communal kitchen for men impacted by homelessness, including those with disabilities. While the scheme provides a safe home, utilising emerging technologies to meet resident needs, it’s also a place for development towards independent living.
Since launching, the scheme has gone from strength to strength, building on its initial innovation and expanding to include specialist activities workers and regular in-house support, giving residents everything they need under one roof.
Honeycomb Group’s Head of Homelessness, Housing and Complex Needs, Laura Dalton (pictured below), leads on Concrete’s work to make homelessness history.
Speaking about the nomination, she said: “We are really proud to be shortlisted for Most Innovative Housing Provider at the Housing Innovation Awards. It’s a real honour to be nominated, especially alongside some fantastic providers across our sector.
“While we’re proud of all our services, it’s fantastic to see our disabled-friendly scheme recognised through this nomination. We opened the scheme last year as we realised there was a chronic shortage of adapted homelessness accommodation locally. This expanded into the national picture too, with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stats revealing that the number of people eligible for homelessness support in England because of a disability rose by 73% from 2018 to 2022.
Laura Dalton
“We’re always keen to be leaders in our field, so the scheme has been our most innovative and groundbreaking yet. It’s a real example of how innovation and technology can come together to make a positive impact. By investing in features like vandal-resistant Intratone door entry systems, 24/7 CCTV with cutting-edge ColourVue technology and smart locks tailored to individual needs, we’ve prioritised safety, accessibility, and independence for our residents, who have all experienced homelessness and other disadvantages.
“Our teams work hard day in, day out, because they truly care and want to create positive outcomes for our customers. It’s wonderful for them to have this recognition and we look forward to celebrating at the ceremony in February.”
