A special new computer link has been set up by Sandwell Council in a bid to help young homeless people to search for housing.

The council’s Single Referral Partnership has been providing effective pathways for homeless young people to access supported housing since 2006.

Successful partnership working between the council and supported housing partners during this period has led to the housing of thousands of young people during this time. Now to help keep track of the availability of supported housing and the increasing demand for it Sandwell Council has developed SHIP (Supported Housing Independence Pathway).

The SHIP system is an internet based application that allows applications for supported housing to be completed on-line and submitted for the consideration of participating supported housing providers.

Each participating supported housing provider can log in to SHIP to view the referral details of new applicants for supported housing and use the system to manage applications throughout the referral, accommodation and move on processes.

The SHIP system allows participating schemes to keep up-to-date records of their current tenants and potential tenants and to share information about the availability of accommodation at their schemes in real time.

Councillor Simon Hackett, whose visit was one of his last duties as cabinet member for housing before taking over children's services, said: “The SHIP system is easy to operate and has an internet page that displays the contact details and locations of the participating supported housing schemes.

“The web page also provides a link to the application form so that agencies of individuals with access to the internet can complete the form and submit it on line.”

“This will give young people a chance to seek information about potential housing easily on their computers.”

Councillor Hackett was at the launch of the new system at the Bagnall Street Foyer at Great Bridge when he asked if the system had the capacity to be applied to other client groups including vulnerable adults and older adults.

Team manager, Frankie Higgins said there were plans to demonstrate SHIP to Sandwell’s Mental Health Provider Forum and the council’s adult social care division to see if they could be used in their areas of work.

Mrs Barbara Hylton Walker, commissioner for mental health and housing commended the council’s vulnerable people housing service for their ongoing work with young people and supported housing providers in Sandwell and for developing the SHIP system.

The SHIP provides a secure system for the transfer of sensitive personal information between referrers and supported housing providers with the outcomes of reducing the administrative time and cost involved in processing high volumes of referrals and making the best use of the supported housing stock available at any point in time. The SHIP system also captures information relating to trends and demand for supported housing that can inform discussions about the strategic relevance of the supported housing provision and help with targeting of valuable resources in the future.