Trio pay tribute to project for helping in their hour of need

Once-homeless people who have all fled unsafe situations have paid tribute to a project run by Derventio Housing Trust, which has saved the NHS tens of thousands of pounds over the years.

Theresa Kestle, Kelsey Hudspeth and Violet Osborn have all joined together to thank the trust for running the ‘Healthy Futures’ project, which has provided them with accommodation in their hour of need.

Funded by Chesterfield Borough Council, the Healthy Futures project sees Derventio Housing Trust provide accommodation to people in very severe need if they might otherwise be calling ‘999’ and using NHS services to flee danger.

The project provides residents with intense support and has seen remarkable success over the years, saving the NHS tens of thousands of pounds by supporting those who might otherwise rely on using emergency services.

Theresa, who was sleeping rough in Chesterfield for months in 2024, believes that without Derventio Housing Trust she would probably be “dead, or locked up” because of her drug use.

But having been referred to Healthy Futures in late 2024, she has now got herself clean within weeks.

She said: “Sleeping rough was the worst experience of my life. You always think something is going to happen to you.

“I got in touch with Derventio Housing Trust through the homeless charity Pathways. I got somewhere within a week.

“For me, having somewhere I can call home is brilliant – otherwise I’d probably have ended up dead or locked up.”

Kelsey Hudspeth found herself without a home and relying on sofa surfing after escaping an abusive relationship.

She said finding the sanctuary of Derventio Housing Trust had been wonderful, and she has also found herself a job working in a coffee shop.

Violet Osborn, of Alfreton, came to Derventio Housing Trust having become homeless in 2021, before needing to flee an unstable shelter that is no longer operational.

Now studying at Chesterfield College with the aim of entering the field of engineering, she said: “Derventio Housing Trust and Healthy Futures means safety. It means people who are welcoming. There’s one-on-one help for you, and you can call anyone you need to.”

Healthy Futures helps around 20 people a year and two residents have already moved on to a private tenancy in 2025.

According to the trust, every pound invested in the project, nearly four times as much is put back into the economy.

Sarah Hernandez, managing director at Derventio Housing Trust, said: “It’s brilliant to hear from Theresa, Kesley and Violet who are thriving as a result of our Healthy Futures project.

“We provide an intense level of support to people who have been in some extremely unsafe situations in their lives and the progress we see year on year that people can make when they receive that support is remarkable to see.

“We are always hearing about the strain on the NHS caused by calls to 999 so it’s great to be able to offer this service which provides help by giving accommodation to people who might otherwise be in an NHS bed when they don’t need one.”