The Ferry Project is pleased to announce that we have been successful in our application for £600,000 grant funding from the Ending Homelessness in Communities (EHCF) fund.

EHCF is a government-funded programme designed to support innovative approaches that prevent homelessness, reduce rough sleeping and improve outcomes for people facing some of the most significant barriers to stable housing.

Our application focused on two key pillars that we know are desperately needed in Fenland: Tenancy sustainment and prevention, and complex needs stabilisation and recovery pathways.

Our tenancy sustainment and prevention work focuses on supporting people before they reach crisis point by providing early intervention, tenancy sustainment, budgeting support, benefits advice, advocacy and practical assistance to help people remain in their homes and avoid homelessness.

Our complex needs stabilisation and recovery pathway supports some of the hardest-to-engage rough sleepers in our community through a trauma-informed, psychologically informed model built around No Wrong Door principles and closely reflecting the ethos of Housing First. The proposal centres on providing intensive wraparound support for individuals experiencing severe and multiple disadvantages, many of whom are currently unable to access traditional services due to the complexity of their needs.

The project includes specialist mental health and substance misuse support, intensive relationship-based casework, strong multi-agency collaboration and clear pathways into sustainable accommodation. It is a model that reflects both local need and our ambition to deliver lasting solutions rather than temporary fixes.

The project has been developed in collaboration with a wide range of local and countywide partners, including Fenland District Council, Citizens Advice, CPSL Mind, local health services, mental health providers, substance misuse services, DWP, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and organisations involved in the Changing Futures programme. These partnerships will ensure people receive coordinated support that addresses not only their housing needs, but also the underlying challenges affecting their health, wellbeing, financial stability and long-term recovery.

Ferry Project CEO, Sandra Ferreira says: “I am incredibly excited about this project. It is something I have wanted to develop for a long time and I genuinely believe it has the potential to make a significant difference to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. I know we have the right team to make it a success. This is a significant achievement for The Ferry Project and more importantly, for the people we serve.”

The delivery of this project will begin in October/November 2026.