New supported housing opens in Lincoln to tackle homelessness
The service provides 15 self-contained flats alongside training and office space, a gym, and round-the-clock staff support
A new supported housing scheme has opened in Lincoln, offering some of the city’s most vulnerable people a safe place to live and the chance to rebuild their lives.
Sincil House, developed by homelessness charity Framework on the site of the former Golden Cross pub on Lincoln High Street, was officially opened on yesterday (10 September). The service provides 15 self-contained flats alongside training and office space, a gym, and round-the-clock staff support.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by the Leader of the City of Lincoln Council, Cllr Naomi Tweddle, with speeches from Framework’s Chief Executive Andrew Redfern and Deputy Chief Executive Claire McGonigle.
Framework’s Operations Manager for Lincolnshire Homelessness and Housing, Sandra Blow, described the development as a lifeline for those who have faced the toughest of circumstances.
“Sincil House is supported accommodation with 24/7 staff, designed to help people who have been rough sleeping in Lincoln or who have a history of it and need a high level of support to move on with their lives,” she said.
“This isn’t about a quick fix. We’re offering people stability, dignity, and the chance to access the services they need in one place. For many, this will be the first real base they’ve had in years.”
The scheme is funded by a £1.7m capital grant from the government’s Single Homeless Accommodation Programme (SHAP), with Framework contributing £950,000. Lincolnshire-based Gelder Group carried out the construction.
Blow explained that the new homes would not only reduce rough sleeping but also help people with severe multiple disadvantage — those facing overlapping challenges such as poor mental health, substance use, offending behaviour, financial struggles, and the impacts of trauma.
“Instead of being a box-ticking exercise, support here is trauma-informed. Most of the people who come to us have experienced severe trauma in their lives, and this may have led to substance use, offending behaviour, or difficulty sustaining housing,” she said.
“Sincil House offers longer-term accommodation and personalised support so people can stabilise, access services like mental health or recovery programmes, and eventually move on to live independently.”
Residents will be referred through the City of Lincoln Council’s rough sleeping team, which verifies people currently sleeping on the streets. According to Blow, many have already moved in ahead of the official opening.
She stressed the wider benefits for the whole community:
“When people are rough sleeping, they’re incredibly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. They also struggle to engage with services, and the result is often repeated ambulance and police callouts, which are costly. By giving people somewhere safe with 24/7 support, we’re reducing the financial burden on the public purse while transforming lives.”
Sincil House takes the number of supported housing units run by Framework in Lincoln to more than 100, bringing its total investment in the city to nearly £10 million.
Blow said the new development also reflects a belief in the importance of dignity:
“Our accommodation is bright, airy, and built to a high standard. It raises people’s self-esteem and sense of worth — which is a world away from trying to survive in a sleeping bag in a car park. That’s where the journey of rebuilding lives really starts.”