Kazuri Properties

Kazuri Properties Ltd is a Social Enterprise which purchases, manages and rents property based on a successful US model known as Housing First. We operate an ethical code of practice, ensuring that organisations whose services we broker on behalf of our clients operate from a personalisation agenda perspective. The company exists in order to assist vulnerable women, through specialist wrap around provision, one-to-one with mentors and peer-to-peer support. Women we rehouse include those leaving domestic violence shelters and supported housing.

Kazuri empowers women to recognise their own potential by rebuilding damaged social bonds and by managing sustainable tenancies with landlords within the private sector. With long-term relationships with landlords throughout London , we assure our buildings are well maintained and meet the decent homes standard. Having conducted an extensive literature review inter alia Kings College, London, of women and trauma in the criminal justice system, Kazuri empowers women to break out of the cycle of abuse and crime, by offering a safe and secure place from which she can rebuild the rest of her life.

Approach

With a light touch multi systemic intervention, we ensure the women's basic needs for shelter and security as described in Maslow's hierarchy of needs are met and then address employment, education, reintegration, apprenticeship and upskilling with our in-house employment specialist and dedicated mentors.

• Resisting destructive behavior by recognizing and addressing destructive behaviors
• Dealing with long-standing trauma issues through individual and group work, signposting to a specialist PCT where requested
• Engaging with complex education, employment and personal development programs with our in-house specialists
• Accepting responsibility and smooth reintegration through restorative justice / community work with strong local VCO partnerships
• Committing to a work / volunteering program during their residence
• Entering suitable housing and being in sustainable employment at the end of their time with us

Working with our partners, investors and stakeholders we are committed to providing tailor-made solutions for our service users and complete transparency in all that we do as a social firm, committing resources through an asset lock in the community.

Identified Needs

There is also an identified need acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice in its recent Green Paper, “Breaking the Cycle”, for additional, effective accommodation and support services aimed at women who would normally be living in the community on bail or under a Home Detention Curfew (HDC). However, in many instances re-offending rates are actually higher for women who go through existing support services than for those who are released unsupported.

Over a third of women (37%) have nowhere of their own to go upon release and often have no viable option but to re-offend. Kazuri believes this neglected group of short term (less than one year) ex-prisoners, with high re-offending rates, is continually set up to fail. The recent report by the Women’s Justice Task Force highlighted the unfairness of the current system and the call for more assisted places in the community, particularly for women has been reinforced by the Magistrates Association.

Kazuri Community

Kazuri Properties has a substantial asset lock which ensures that profits made from assisting vulnerable people are ploughed back into worthwhile Kazuri projects through the Kazuri Community.

For more information please contact Farah