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22.
November
2017.
Housing Champion Hannah recognised for helping the homeless

Housing Champion Hannah recognised for helping the homeless

 

A council worker dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of homeless people in the city has been recognised with a Welsh Housing Award for 2017.

 

At the annual awards ceremony at the Vale Resort, hostel services officer, Hannah Jinks, was named as Housing Champion for Wales which recognisesindividuals who have showed enthusiasm and passion in roles that improve the lives of others.

 

Working at Ty Tresillan and Green Farm hostels for the last 14 years, Hannah has been instrumental in efforts to improve the wellbeing of residents and rough sleepers who use the Council's services, with a particular focus on eye health.

 

Specsavers opticians now regularly visit Ty Tresillian to provide eye tests to residents and service users and around 95% of those who have been tested have needed glasses, further treatment or hospital admission.

 

Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, Cllr Lynda Thorne congratulated Hannah for her win, saying: "This is excellent news and very well deserved. I am very proud of Hannah and the whole hostel services team whose innovation and commitment to their work is making a real difference to the vulnerable people they help.

 

"We work hard with partners to provide services to residents in our hostels and it's amazing what can come from one simple eye test. Often, our teams notice a real difference in residents who have received treatment or glasses to improve their eyesight.

 

"It can be the trigger to someone engaging with services, building their confidence and improving their prospects as we help people to begin to rebuild their lives.

 

"There's some amazing work going within our homelessness teams and I'm delighted that Hannah has been recognised with this national industry award."