Launched in 2019 The Naumann Initiative was aimed at breaking the vicious cycle of homelessness and unemployment, by giving a homeless person a home, a job, and support with any complex needs or barriers to sustaining their tenancy.

In 2021 Working Out Of Homelessness, the second phase of the initiative was launched with DWP support allowing Kingdom to expand and build upon the initial project and enhance the support available to people facing homelessness.

Kingdom Housing Association has now recruited six new staff members who had been homeless through the Naumann Initiative and several Naumann partnerships have been created with local employers including JM Gardening Services, Tivoli Maintenance, Baynes the Bakers, Byzantine Developments, Kingdom Support & Care, and Campion Homes.

Lynne Dunn, manager of Kingdom Works, Kingdom Housing Association’s employability project, said: “It’s great news that the DWP have agreed to provide us with the funding to roll this project into 2022. We plan to expand the level of activity and reach even more homeless people through the Naumann Initiative. In addition to the new roles created by Kingdom, in the last year Kingdom Works supported 104 homeless individuals, 61 undertook training, 40 started work and of those 40, 32 have moved into permanent housing. In addition, 12 received Chromebooks through Connecting Scotland. All of this was achieved by engaging closely with our employability partners, DWP, James Bank Hostel, Link Living, YMCA and Hunter House.”

Kingdom Group chief executive Bill Banks added: “We’re an organisation with a purpose that extends beyond building and managing homes to building communities and improving the lives of the people in those communities. This is reflected in our mission to provide ‘More Than a Home’. I’m passionate about the difference good work can make to communities so I’ve been a strong advocate for the Initiative and Kingdom’s Board has been hugely supportive too. The ongoing funding provided by the Department of Work and Pensions allows us to strengthen existing partnerships and develop new ones with local employers so we can continue to tackle homelessness and unemployment.”

Dougie Herd, managing director of Campion Homes, commented: “In the Summer of 2021 we created a labourer role under the Naumann Initiative. We were so impressed by the standard of candidates we ended up recruiting 3 people. Seeing our new staff members embrace the opportunity provided by this Initiative is fantastic. It really is life changing.”