Accommodation
Launchpad Reading (Nova)
Who is the project for?
Who do we help?
The Nova project is a specialist service for women, established in 2021 by Reading Borough Council, in response to an identified need. It provides a home for 10 multiply disadvantaged women in a gender and trauma-informed supported environment.
The home is a safe space for female residents to help them begin to recover from the experience of homelessness and to help them rebuild their lives until they are ready to move on.
As women experience homelessness differently from men – affected by violence, abuse and sexual harassment – there is a need for specialised, individual, gender-informed support to work through severe traumas such as domestic abuse which Launchpad staff will provide alongside partner agencies.
Who we cannot help
H
Gender
Women
Minimum age accepted
18
Maximum age accepted
99
How to get a referral
Referral agencies
Launchpad accepts referrals for their supported housing service through the Reading BC access panel. Agencies can ask for a CAF form from Reading BC. Then complete form and return to the access panel. Floating Support service is also accessed via the access panel. The drop-in service is open to all callers.
Referral procedure
Common Assessment form (CAF) for the floating support and supported housing service.
Open access to drop-in service.
Length of stay
Minimum stay
3-6 Months
Maximum stay
6 months - 1 Year
Support and accommodation
Support offered
Launchpad has: 47 full & part time staff, 100+ volunteers & a Supported Housing (team of 13).
For supported housing, an emergency out of hours call system for housing emergencies (not support).
Operate key worker system for Supported Housing (average 20 tenants per worker), weekly meetings & house visits.
Further information
Public transport
Most properties are within walking distance of the town centre. All properties are on bus routes.