As the year comes to an end, so does the end of an era here at Harbour Housing, as we say goodbye to our Head of Housing Services, Chris Abbott.
For over eighteen years, Chris has been a dedicated member of staff and a great mentor throughout our charity. His vision and hard work of raising awareness and implementing Naloxone kits into our supported accommodation, has saved many lives, throughout our projects and further afield.
What some of the senior management had to say;
After saying goodbye to Harbour Housing’s longest-serving member of staff, Chris Abbott on 3rd December, it’s important to take a step back and look at all the achievements made, and brilliant work undertaken under his leadership over the last eighteen years. Chris has overseen the implementation of several innovative and forward-thinking initiatives, for example, the pioneering use of a life-saving rescue drug within services (Naloxone) and the development of Harbour’s Harm Reduction and trauma-informed practices. Chris has steadied the ship and guided the organisation through periods of rapid growth and some difficult situations, always with a clear and consistent approach.
Chris will be greatly missed, and his experience and wealth of knowledge will be hard to replace. Moving forward into 2025, the Senior Management Team will endeavour to pick up the baton and continue to develop and improve both our temporary accommodation projects and outreach services in the community, supporting individuals to find stability and make positive progress in their lives. -Alex Dean, Head of Supported Living & Care Services
Chris was on the interview panel when I applied to work here over a decade ago. His vast knowledge and understanding were clear, even from that first meeting. His calm manner and precise leadership have been steadying elements throughout the organisation’s growth and during the last twelve months leading up to his retirement. It has been a pleasure to look closer at his work as a Senior manager and ensure that whilst we will never be able to replace Chris, we have embedded his unwaning level-headedness into our policies, procedures and practices. Without Chris, the availability of life-saving drug Naloxone would not be so readily available in our accommodation or in other supported and hostel settings across the UK.
He was quite a trailblazer who helped to pioneer access to one of the most effective harm-reduction measures amongst homeless people, and his legacy enables us to keep championing common sense, person-centred approaches that meet needs and solve problems. For all staff, it is a monumental change, but we are prepared, and The Senior Management Team are continuing to embrace and adapt to new opportunities and nurture the innovative spirit that is inherent in Harbour Housing whilst staying true to our core values.
We head into 2025 with a strong understanding of who we are as an organisation. We are fortunate to have secured not only contracts but relationships over the years, many of which would not be possible without Chris, and we are proud of the specialist services and psychologically informed environments we have to offer. Our range and breadth of support and our portfolio of properties have grown, and we are excited about what the future holds. -Kate Moss, Head of Specialist Support Services & External Contracts
The end of Chris’ tenure at Harbour Housing sees the departure of the longest-serving member of staff at the charity, having joined during the charity’s infancy, he has seen it through its transformation to what it is today. During this time, he played a significant part in the changes the charity has been through, with its elastic tolerance policy that enables those that other organisations overlook to be given a place they can call home. For my part, I am now responsible for the professional and dedicated team of individuals Chris brought together under the banner of Housing Management. It is a pleasure to work with them and as we look to the future, I am looking forward to building on the foundations laid by Chris as we build closer relationships with our colleagues who work tirelessly to support our residents. We will continue to ensure the increasing number of properties in our portfolio are maintained to the highest possible standard, and with new procedures and processes, ensure that the period rooms are void are kept to a minimum so that we can keep as many people as possible off of the streets and safe. Our 24-hour concierge service will continue to ensure our residents are safe and supported around the clock. -Giles Asker, Head of Estates & Compliance
From all of us at Harbour Housing, Congratulations on your retirement, Chris. Know that your legacy of kindness and professionalism will continue to inspire us. May your well-deserved retirement be as rewarding as your career has been for us.
23rd June
13th June
9th June
27th May
22nd May
19th May
