A HOUSING association has launched a new scheme designed to help homeless people get a job.

Kingdom Housing Association said it has introduced a shortlisting scheme to “guarantee that people who are homeless or have recently experienced homelessness will be considered for employment”.

The association said the scheme has been created to reduce stigma and break down barriers to employment that sometimes face people who have experienced homelessness.

Under the plan, any applicant who meets the essential criteria for a role with the association and who is currently registered homeless or has been registered homeless in the year prior to the date of their application will be automatically taken forward to the next stage of the selection process.

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The association said that the move “sends a clear message that having experienced homelessness will not be a barrier”.

Bill Banks, Kingdom chief executive, said the association “believes that everyone should have the opportunity to contribute to their community.

“People who have experienced homelessness often find it difficult to participate in their community and we hope that, through this scheme, we will make that participation a little bit easier and that other employers will follow our lead.

“We have other, very exciting employability plans which will help tackle homelessness so watch this space.”

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Matthew Busher, who is Kingdom head of housing, said: “Securing employment can be a real challenge to people who have experienced homelessness which, in turn, can make finding and settling into stable accommodation more difficult.

“Hopefully we have done something that will help to remove a little of the stigma that comes with homelessness.”

Kingdom employees 370 in a range of roles.