A New Season Supporting Night Shelter projects to plan for Winter 2020: Case studies and examples of new methods of delivering support to people ...
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a New Season Supporting Night Shelter projects to plan for Winter 2020: Case studies and examples of new methods of delivering support to people experiencing homelessness
Contents Introduction
4 From a seven night rotating Shelter to a static venue
Ipswich Winter Night Shelter – Selig Trust
6 Re-purposing a Static Shelter to respond to the ‘Everybody In’ Initiative In January 2020, Winter Night Shelters in England and Wales provided 2,600
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness, Kingston Upon Thames beds to those experiencing homelessness with more than 9,000 people
experiencing hospitality within those projects during the winter months.
8 From a Night Shelter to private rented housing
Enterprise Homes Group Just a few weeks later, the entire Winter Night Shelter Network had been
decanted into self contained accommodation in response to the COVID-19
10 Private rented and shared houses with community support pandemic. This response undoubtedly saved lives, thanks often to the
Hope into Action perseverance and persistence of shelter staff and volunteers.
12 Self-contained accommodation
Hope 4 Havering Now, as the country emerges from the initial To help with this planning Housing Justice is
lockdown leaving us to face a severe recession and publishing a first volume of projects working
the social cost of the pandemic, many night shelter together with local authorities, commissioned
14 From a Night Shelter to a hotel for asylum seekers
projects, churches and faith and community groups services and community resources to bring new,
Glasgow Night Shelter for Destitute Migrants are planning how they can respond to homelessness often innovative provision on line so that no one
this winter as we seek to avoid a second wave and returns to rough sleeping.
16 From a Night Shelter to hotel and supported housing potential lockdown whilst keeping the most
Firm Foundation Night Shelter, Harrow vulnerable people in society safe. The ideas, projects and case studies contained
here are not an exhaustive list of the options
As we write this, in July 2020, the public health available, but they are intended to demonstrate
18 Building the stronghold within: the Citadel model of Mentoring and Befriending position on night shelters remains that dormitory what others have been doing and where they have
Housing Justice Cymru style night shelters are not currently safe to open found effective ways of supporting people in this
and rotating shelters look unlikely to be able to open challenging environment.
for the winter. Many projects have been left to plan
20 Housing Justice Hosting Project
to deliver their projects in a completely different If you are interested in learning more or need
Housing Justice England, London setting this winter. support in taking your plans for this season to the
next stage please get in touch with a member of
the Housing Justice team.
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
2 A New Seaason A New Seaason
3
Ipswich Winter Night Shelter –
Selig Trust
Scenario
From a seven night rotating Shelter to a static venue
Location
Ipswich
About the Shelter The new model
The Selig Suffolk Trust is a registered charity that A town centre building was found and the charity
supports the delivery of the following projects in was given planning permission in May 2020 to use
and around Ipswich: this for all their work – including the winter shelter.
Ipswich Winter Night Shelter The building was already in need of refurbishment,
Ipswich Hope into Action but in response to the changing demands since
the pandemic, five individual guest bedrooms with
Selig’s Trustees offer their professional expertise en suite facilities will be developed. This will mean
to govern these projects. a reduction in the planned beds as communal
sleeping is not possible, but the changes and early
The Winter Night Shelter in Ipswich had been engagement with Local Authority (LA) partners,
working towards a move to a single venue (from the including the planning department, means that the
circuit model) since a trial in 2018/19. Feedback from shelter will be able to function this coming winter.
this trial was positive from volunteers, guests and The project was funded from a combination of
staff. All were clear on the benefits of a single site. local and national grants, the LA, the Selig Trusts
reserves and local councillor ward budgets.
The challenges
“THe WiNter NigHt SHelter Four members of the public objected to the plans,
iN IpsWich Had been citing anti-social behaviour fears, but historically
n
there have been no gatherings outside the shelter,
workiNg towards a move either before or after guests arrived or left.
to a siNgLe veNue siNce Another challenge involved having to adapt
designs and increase the funding to have
a triaL in 2018/19” en-suite self-contained rooms in case people
need to self-isolate.
Contact
Julia Hancock – julia@selig.org.uk
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
4 A New Seaason A New Seaason
5
Kingston Churches Action
on Homelessness
Scenario
Re-purposing a Static Shelter to respond to the ‘Everybody In’ Initiative
Location
Kingston upon Thames
About the Shelter The health and wellbeing of residents is the top The support needs of everyone in hotel September remains very real and there is
priority. Amazing collaborative work has taken place accommodation have been assessed and KCAH has nervousness about this. It is the NRPF guests and
Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness (KCAH)
between KCAH, other voluntary organisations and secured a building for 4–7 persons to be used to those with complex lives that are still in danger of
is a charity set up by local churches in 1993. We
statutory services which we hope will make a lasting house those with complex support needs around having accommodation taken away from them.
provide a drop-in advice service for people in
and positive difference for many people. addiction. This will be a new direction for KCAH
housing crisis and an accommodation project for 46
people in shared accommodation across 12 houses
– creating a ‘Stabilisation Centre’ with a structured The challenges
rented from private landlords, several of whom are
The new model day programme and intricately linked in with the Planning is hard when external factors
Planning is taking place based on the “In For Good” local drug and alcohol service. The plans to make change rapidly.
supporters who no longer live in the area. KCAH has
directive. The success of this will be dependent on this happen are ongoing and the costs will be more It is difficult to provide costings due to the
run a winter night shelter scheme since 2009. We
the continued close partnerships working between than our Night Shelter project. On top of this, we ever-changing environment.
run an Open Access Shelter for up to 30 people per
KCAH, the local authority and health agencies. have offered to provide floating support for hotel There is insufficient appropriate accommodation
night in two venues (MHCLG funded) as well as
The challenge yet to overcome is sourcing guests placed in the accommodation sourced by the to ensure the “In For Good” directive.
overseeing a roaming shelter. Our relationship with
alternative accommodation for the numbers already council, based on a 7:1 client to staff ratio. This is a The elephant in the room is the type of tenancy
the local authority is strong.
helped off the streets. Also, coping with the further cost with no funding pot currently identified. that can be offered – licence agreements are
A well organised fundraising campaign to reach the
COVID-19 response anticipated numbers who will become homeless needed rather than non-secure tenancies
after lockdown is completely lifted. whole of the community is a necessity. We may also (Council) or Assured Shorthold Tenancies
KCAH was running a day centre and a roaming need to source the accommodation ourselves.
shelter when lockdown happened. Immediate
dialogue with the local authority and Housing Justice
Learning points & tips for others
took place. Our existing services ensured a rapid “NoNe of tHe COVID-respoNse None of the COVID-response that KCAH has been
involved in would have taken place without the
To link in with organisations already running
response, with KCAH becoming the single contact
point to place anyone sleeping rough in Kingston
THaT kCaH has been iNvoLved dedication and commitment of over 350 volunteers
shared accommodation and decide on your
preferred model.
giving their time. Although we have no expectation
into temporary ‘COVID-Protect’ accommodation. in wouLd Have takeN pLace of running a shelter this winter, we hope to take our
A strong relationship with your council is
essential – you need champions in the local
Since March, over 100 people have been helped into
accommodation, 16 have successfully moved on and wiTHouT the dedication aNd willing volunteers on the journey with us as we
adapt to whatever the new ‘normal’ is. However, if
authority to fight your corner. You need to
about the same number have lost accommodation.
commiTmeNt of over 350 there is a return to the streets, then there will be
understand the housing benefit system and
HMO regulations, for example.
inevitable frustrations that shelters cannot be run,
KCAH deployed 5 staff to oversee the running of the voLuNTeers giviNg tHeir time” despite our acceptance of Public Health guidance.
Consider joining the NRLA
(National Residential Landlords Association).
Travelodge hotel where 64 rooms are secured until
September. We ensure that Universal Credit is up Our guests in hotel accommodation have,
and running, housing benefit is claimed and a Contact
overall, been fantastic. However, the “cliff edge”
homelessness application has been made. that could happen in Kingston at the end of enquiries@kcah.org.uk
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
6 A New Seaason A New Seaason
7
Enterprise Homes Group
Scenario
From a Night Shelter to private rented housing
Location
Wolverhampton
About the Shelter
The Enterprise Homes Group is a charitable
three months, over 100 people have progressed on
from the hotel into long-term safe, suitable, and
An enhanced rate of move-on to permanent
accommodation based on personal needs.
“IT quickLy becAme
organisation that provides accommodation,
sustainable accommodation. A co-ordinated outreach support following
move-on enabling tenancy sustainability,
appareNT tHaT reTurNing
support, life skills training, work placements and
employment to people transitioning through
The community in-reach workers of EHG have integration, and resettlement. to The oLd way of doiNg
homelessness. It took over the operations of the
Wolverhampton Church Shelter in April 2019, as
staffed the hotel reception 12 hours a day,
7 days a week to assist in maintaining the same Learning points & tips for others
THiNgs was No longer aN
part of the development of a unified pathway out
family culture as the shelter, and coordinating
the support offered to each individual.
The frontline EHG team in the hotel have played a optioN as THe quaLiTy of
of homelessness. It was transitioning to being a
permanent Night Shelter and had secured long-
significant role as the oil in the wheels helping to
maximise the effectiveness of the whole.
THis new service aNd The
The new model
term premises in partnership with another
charitable organisation. Its relationship with It quickly became apparent that returning to the old
In addition, the support of local business, a GP
surgery, and charities supporting food distribution
ouTcomes were too good”
the local authority was ok but nothing special. way of doing things was no longer an option as the have all played their part.
It provided 20 beds a night and assisted around quality of this new service and the outcomes were too In all this, Wolverhampton Council has taken the Contact
150–200 individuals per annum for at least one good. We decided early on therefore that the shelter lead and continues to. Our relationship with them Matt Lambert –
night, often more. could no longer continue to operate for this reason is now excellent, as they have seen the difference matt.lambert@enterprisehomesgroup.org.uk
rather than any operational obstacles linked to made by our culture and working practices.
COVID-19 response COVID-19. The partnership across the city has They are working on identifying a suitable building
decided to replicate the hotel context on a smaller and continue to take responsibility for ensuring
Prior to lockdown under the COVID-19 pandemic,
scale (15 to 20 beds maybe) while retaining the same that no-one returns to the streets.
Wolverhampton’s approach to tackling
principles and working practices: It has transpired that both the risk factor and the
homelessness was increasingly becoming more
and more about collaborations and partnerships. cost of running an operation of this nature, are
Seamless support and compassionate scaffolding. significantly lower than would have been
Lockdown dramatically accelerated this process.
Good quality accommodation, at a single location anticipated and it is therefore much more
Despite doubts and fears that moving all the
with integrated partnerships. accessible than previously thought.
known rough sleepers, many with complex needs,
An ethos of compassion, respect, and flexibility. What we have learnt above all else is that so
into a local hotel was potentially a recipe for
An organic service delivery tailored to individual much more can be achieved together through
disaster, it has been made to not only work, it has
needs and agile working practices that can serving one another and putting the individual’s
become a remarkable success story. This success
adapt to challenges. needs before that of the organisations.
has been achieved through close partnership
Personalised needs assessments with access Together we can make homelessness history
work, a flexible & tolerant person-centred
to specialist intervention and strengthened and ensure that no-one is left behind.
approach and wrap-around support. In less than
pathways with treatment services.
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
8 A New Seaason A New Seaason
9
Hope into Action
Scenario
Private rented and shared houses with community support
Location
Nationwide
About the Shelter Each church provides a ‘friendship and support
group’ of 5–10 volunteers who agree to love,
Hope into Action enables churches to house the
befriend, support and journey with our tenants. We
homeless. We began 10 years ago in Peterborough
train that group during a course we run for them.
and have grown to be running 75 homes across
Additionally, we employ an ‘Empowerment worker’
the country in 23 different towns. Each house is in
who will work with the tenants and the churches
partnership with a local church and contains 2 to 3
on their journey from referral to assessment to
people. Houses can be for men or women. We
move-in and then move-on. This Empowerment
adopt a franchise approach to replication into each
work ensures the quality of the work we do.
new town. Along the way we have won various
awards for our model including The Guardian’s
‘Best Housing Awards in the country’.
The challenges
Our main challenges have been finding new
COVID-19 response churches willing and able to partner with us.
When the lockdown occurred, we realised that the
vulnerable are always more strongly represented
Learning points & tips for others
in a crisis. We had over 200 tenants in our homes We really believe in our model. We would love
and we made it our #1 priority to try not to lose any to share with you what we have learnt!
of their lives.
Contact
The new model Ed Walker – ed.walker@hopeintoaction.org.uk
Using investment capital, churches purchase
houses that are then leased to Hope into Action and
run in partnership with the local church. The intent
is to try and buy the house within 5 minutes’ walk.
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
10 A New Seaason A New Seaason
11Hope 4 Havering
Scenario
Self-contained accommodation
Location
Havering, London
About the Shelter The new model The challenges
Hope 4 Havering is a registered charity set up in Our Trustees have a background and experience Getting landlords on board was challenging to
2011 and started with a 15 bed shelter and has in addiction and we had always planned our start with and working with agents and owners
progressed to the current 20 bed permanent site. additional units around rehabilitation support and who didn’t have an emotional link to the property
Hope 4 Havering focuses on providing substance it was easy to gain their support. At the start, our like an ex-family home was more productive.
use rehabilitation support set up in 2011 and has relationship with the local authority wasn’t the We worked with a consultancy around being
since grown to provide 43 units, 37 of which are most supportive and has since improved to the LHA housing benefit exempt, we had to evidence
studio flats in addition to the shelter, operates 2 point where they are extremely supportive of our the rehabilitation support we were offering and
charity shops and has a staff team of 10 people. work and the impact we have in the borough. keep written records and support plans.
Originally, we rented houses from fellow We had to refocus our support focus to Hope 4 Havering has a 20 bed permanent site
We have over the years built a very good Christians at the market rate and then worked incorporate housing management elements
relationship with the local authority and this with private owners. Setting up a budget and geared towards independence and move on, to
dramatically improved during the introduction of getting LHA exempt rental income was vital in ensure we can evidence our support and qualify Contact
the Homeless Reduction Act and they have since making us financially stable. for LHA exemption. Kim Merry – kimhope4havering@gmail.com
been very supportive of our work.
Learning points & tips for others
COVID-19 response “Look aT a ViabiLity budgeT See if your local authority is supportive of your
Our shelter decanted during the lockdown into a idea and build the relationship of you gaining
hotel and our staff worked in tandem with St to see if the moNey side rental income exemption from their housing
Mungo’s and SHP and everyone was successfully
moved on with only 1 remaining guest. We used
stacks up aNd geT supporT benefit department.
Look at a viability budget to see if the money
the lockdown period to plan and develop our from Trustees and speak side stacks up and get support from trustees
support model, scope additional units and open an and speak with your local authority to see if they
extra charity shop. with youR local auThority can help.
to see if THey can HeLP” See if someone in your congregation has a
relevant rental property in the first instance,
as some landlords, can have stigma around the
use of the property.
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
12 A New Seaason A New Seaason
13Scottish Government funding and support for the
hotel bill and the additional staff but everything else
has been through our own resource, partnership
and volunteer support. We also felt great solidarity
from folk working in England and Wales, such as
Museum of Homelessness, and the wider NRPF
Glasgow Night Shelter sector through NACCOM.
The new model
for Destitute Migrants Our new home is ready and we can now deliver our
human-rights model; everyone who stays has their
The old Glasgow Night Shelter
own en suite room, there are facilities (and supplies)
to make food independently, as well as a community reduce the number of people coming in and out
Scenario kitchen offering 3 meals a day; there’s also in-house of the service, we had to stand-down many loyal
From a Night Shelter to a hotel for asylum seekers casework in partnership with Scottish Refugee and committed volunteers who desperately
Council and our newly recruited asylum-experienced wanted to help.
Location Participation Manager will ensure that further We could not have done this without direct funding
Glasgow development and delivery of GNS is decided on by from the Scottish Government and this has only
those who stay. We run this service from a building been possible on public health grounds. When not
peppercorn leased to us by a housing association, in this emergency, the direct funding of
who were looking for a meanwhile, charitable use for accommodation for people who have no recourse
an empty building in their portfolio. Together with the to public funds is regrettably considered outside
housing association we secured a House of Multiple the powers devolved Scottish Government.
Occupancy licence. As part of the transition, we We also benefited enormously from the generous
have also been working on developing and partnership of the hotel chain who gave over their
strengthening our organisational structures, policies hotel for a vastly reduced rate. The skeleton team
About the Shelter COVID-19 response
and procedures, including data management and from the hotel crew who were not furloughed have
Glasgow’s Night Shelter has been preventing We weren’t quite ready to move into our new place
security. We are now starting to think more about been extraordinary in their efforts to support what
homelessness among destitute asylum seekers when COVID-19 struck, but we quickly diverted
branding and our online profile. we were trying to achieve, including empathising
since 2011. Glasgow is the UK’s largest dispersal from our existing 8pm-9am accommodation,
about the complex trauma many folk were living
area and we are Scotland’s main provider of where social distancing couldn’t be practiced. We
The challenges with.
emergency and temporary accommodation for our had concerns about where folk could go during the
community who have no recourse to public funds, day, as frontline services and public buildings were Initially we found immediate scaling up from
providing support and shelter for 12 hours a Learning points & tips for others
365 nights a year. Our roots are in a volunteer-led closing and having been consistently at capacity
night to 24 hours a real challenge – recruitment, Have an aspiration and a bold belief in whatever
model, based in empty halls around the city, only for the last year, we also knew there were many
protocols, health and safety, scared and new approach you decide to undertake.
getting our own (borrowed) base in 2018. But what more folk needing accommodation.
confused guests etc. It’s OK to say that night shelters aren’t good for
we’ve been able to deliver has never truly been
Our situation was compounded by the added people – it doesn’t mean you and your team have
good enough and set out to co-produce an Overnight we reinvented ourselves, doubling
logistics of providing 3 meals a day, without a done anything wrong, it means you aspire to do
accommodation pathway that will demonstrably capacity, providing accommodation and wrap
kitchen, and that which had to be delivered even better.
improve the quality of life for our community. around support for up 48 destitute asylum seekers
individually to rooms to meet COVID-19 Be confident networking and making requests
per day during “lockdown”, by basing our service in
guidance. Because we’d already done some asking for sites and support – if you don’t ask, you
We do this by leading a city-wide pilot project to an empty hotel. We found the hotel, partnered with
planning and development work for the new don’t get!
improve the quality, quantity and coordination of Simon Community Scotland to share resources and
centre, this was perhaps easier than an Don’t do anything without involving folk with
third sector accommodation and services available expertise, and we recruited new team members to
unexpected change. lived experience.
to destitute asylum seekers. In November 2019 we work round the clock. In this temporary setting
The team also found the change challenging Work with your team and volunteers to talk
kicked off by beginning a radical transformation of we’ve supported 130 different destitute asylum
– including concerns about not being able to through ideas and possibilities.
our own service, from a basic overnight shelter for seekers since late March 2020; everyone has been
“see” people in private rooms. Leadership from Check your assumptions, particularly around race
25 men in a shared dormitory, into a 24/7 human enabled to engage with advocacy and casework (in
our Service Manager quelled these fears, and and gender, as your ideas might be affected by
rights centre. Here our community can immediately partnership with Scottish Refugee Council, British
demonstrated how wellbeing and welfare could forms of unconscious bias.
access dignified private accommodation; time, Red Cross and Govan Community Project), make
be checked on, while maintaining privacy and It’s not about you, or your organisation. It’s about
space and support to explore their rights; and applications for destitution grants through Refugee
dignity for the folk who stayed. the folk you exist to enable.
access to services to improve their wellbeing. Since Survival Trust, get legal support to review cases,
our commitment to transformation, we have been and to access wellbeing services. Much of this was It also wasn’t possible to involve all of the team
happily joined by a Scotland-wide commitment to made available online as other services shut their and our volunteers in the decisions about Contact
ending the use of night shelters. city centre offices in line with COVID-19 guidance, moving and how we’d run the hotel service and Annika – annika@glasgownightshelter.org
which meant ensuring everyone had a smartphone, this no doubt caused some anxiety and
and that there were laptops on site too. We received concerns. And we were sad that in order to
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
14 A New Seaason A New Seaason
15Firm Foundation
Night Shelter
Scenario
From a Night Shelter to hotel and supported housing
Location
Harrow, London
About the Shelter The new model
Firm Foundation is a single homeless organisation for Working with guests in Hotels has overcome
those 18+ individuals under threat of homelessness some historic issues around privacy and those
or homeless in the Borough of Harrow. The Shelter is with mental health needs. In each Shelter there
now in its 10th consecutive year. have been those for whom the Shelter has not been
an appropriate service. Two referrals this year
The Charity started managing a Winter Night Shelter would not enter the Shelter or sleep in a dorm
in 2011 with a part-time worker. In 2013 Firm setting due to their mental health. In addition,
Foundation went full-time and opened supported having to be outside until the Shelter reopens each
accommodation and day services. Harrow’s Single day has been problematic. There are also staff
Homelessness Forum is also chaired by Firm savings as Night Staff are not required. We will
Foundation. Our day services offered food and be trialling a Hotel based Night Shelter in 2021.
shower facilities with a signposting service. Our
supported accommodation offers 6 rooms over two Firm Foundation were able to offer four rooms
properties and is a 2 year move on with support. in our supported accommodation with our
Using one venue with teams coming to the venue regular landlords and letting agents offering
there is an evening meal, dormitory overnight beds self-contained accommodation. Harrow Council
and breakfast. We have use of the Community have also increased their awareness and offer
Centre from 6.30pm – 7.30am. Female guests sleep to some of those with complex needs. This is
in a Church close to the Community Centre. Largest in its early stages and is promising.
Shelter offered 17 beds for men 8 for ladies.
Learning points & tips for others
COVID-19 response Building and developing working relationships with
Firm Foundation moved guests into local hotels the Council and Landlords has been key, although
ahead of the government guidance. Harrow this has taken some time to develop.
Council agreed to meet part of the cost of each Harrow’s Rough Sleeping Co-ordinator had been
room. The transition was smooth and we have working out of Firm Foundation’s offices and the
been housing people from the Hotels. relationship has enabled us to work together.
Contact
js@firmfoundation.org.uk
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
16 A New Seaason A New Seaason
17Citadel
Scenario
Building the stronghold within: the Citadel model of Mentoring and Befriending
Location
Wales
About the Shelter
The aim of the project is to help people at risk
Citadel will use a ‘Circles of Support’ model, to build
a network of support for service users, including any
Learning points & tips for others
Citadel will be co-produced with service users and
“THis modeL iNcreases
of homelessness to sustain their tenancies, or
agencies already involved and other agencies who
may be of benefit to the individual. This model
volunteers because ‘the involvement of service THe supporT for tHe
accommodation arrangements, by matching them
with trained volunteers, who will work with
increases the support for the individual, ensuring all
users and volunteers in the design and delivery of
services is frequently highlighted as contributing
iNdividuaL, eNsuring
individuals, in a strength-based approach to help
people find a ‘stronghold’ within themselves.
support services are working together, with the
individual’s needs at the centre. This approach also
to high quality outcomes’. aLl supporT services
reduces the risks for our volunteers and the
organisation, by ensuring we do not enable
At the earliest stage of involvement, we asked are workiNg togeTHer,
Citadel uses our large base of church and
community volunteers, who bring kindness,
counterproductive relationships between the
willing individuals who have worked with us on
other projects for their views. Of the people we
wiTH tHe iNdividuaL’s
commitment and professionalism, together with our
Christian values of love, compassion and nurture, to
volunteers and service users.
asked, 100% said they wanted further support
when moving from emergency accommodation
Needs aT THe ceNtre”
The first initial meeting would take place between a
support vulnerable people to maintain their into housing.
Housing Justice Citadel Co-ordinator, a volunteer and
tenancies, through helping people to identify their
a service user, to ensure that all parties are happy with
needs and work towards addressing them. This could When asked about ‘What matters to [them]’,
the pairing before the service user and volunteer
be finding and connecting with a community, seeking they most frequently said they wanted help with
would start meeting on their own. This meeting would
meaningful employment, accessing a sport or finances, finding employment and volunteering
also be used to agree meeting frequency, times,
engaging with a new hobby. It may also require opportunities and socialising.
location and length of Citadel support, which should
advocacy to help individuals access the services
all be led by the service user. Citadel Volunteers would
they need such as health or financial services. They felt Citadel volunteers would help with this
meet with service users on a regular basis (in a public
by using their local connections and knowledge,
place, e.g. a café) over a period of 3–6 months to
The new model help with applying for jobs, help with social skills,
begin with and would receive supervision with the
Our Citadel volunteers will all undergo reference signposting and help with computer literacy skills.
Citadel Co-ordinator once a month to ensure that
checks, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) each pairing is fruitful. After the initial 3–6 months is
Checks and full training, before working with an Contact
up, a review would take place to see if the relationship
individual. They will be supported by a paid member should continue. If all parties agree to continue, a plan Bonnie Navarra –
of staff (Citadel Co-ordinator) throughout the project. would be agreed going forward and if not, it would be b.navarra@housingjustice.org.uk
recorded why it has ended (good or bad). Outcomes
and evaluation would be recorded in order to collate
data to feedback to funders.
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
18 A New Seaason A New Seaason
19How does hosting work?
Recruit hosts Support Move-on
Promote in networks for hosts Defined duration of
placement set at start
Housing Justice
Arrange an Information Direct contact with
Event Coordinator Move on plan identified
More frequently at start by referral agency
Reference check and DBS
Hosting Project
and then on request Options for extension
Home visit/property if host is willing
assessment Policy for dealing
with complaints and Guests may move to
Volunteer Agreement discipline issues another host when
and Policy a placement ends
Training Session
Membership with NAACOM offers
Referrals Support access to a library of up-to-date
Partnership with local for guests templates and resources:
agencies supporting More frequently at start
NACCOM Membership
What is Hosting? NACCOM, a national network preventing destitute migrants
destitution amongst people seeking asylum, Ongoing support from
Hosting is simply where someone offers a room in Referral form completed referral agency
refugees and other migrants have produced a by agency
their house to someone in need.
comprehensive Hosting Toolkit aimed at people Engaged with
Informed decision making Immigration Advice
interested in becoming hosts or those interested by Coordinator on
Hosting Projects are an effective way of channelling
in setting up a scheme in their area: suitability of guest for Facilitation of
and supporting help and hospitality from individuals hosting volunteering, ESOL,
willing to accommodate people unable to pay rent NACCOM Hosting Toolkit
Mentoring & Befriending
Ongoing casework
and isolated as a result of their destitution. They
assistance from agency
share the same core values of human kindness and Key things required for setting up a hosting scheme:
hospitality embodied in winter night shelters. Hosts A Steering Group, a Coordinator, enough hosts,
provide a safe, secure place to stay enabling guests access to funding, public liability insurance &
the stability they need to rebuild their lives. referral partnerships.
Who is it for? Housing Justice has been running a hosting scheme
since 2015. It has provided over 27,000 nights of
Hosting projects traditionally accommodate
accommodations, currently supports 28 guests and
destitute people with no recourse to public funds Matching Host & Guest
has a network of over 50 hosts.
who have very limited housing options. Coordinator brokers a Agreement
Housing Justice Hosting Project meeting between guest Agreement signed
Failed Asylum Seekers & host in a neutral including house rules,
A project coordinator leads on recruitment, vetting location. mutual expectations
Refugees with newly granted status
including DBS checks, referral and risk assessment Each decide if they
EEA nationals seeking work 1 week trial period
of guests, matching, relationship management, and think it will work
Other destitute migrants
ongoing support to both guests and hosts.
Do you have volunteers interested
in Hosting?
If yes, reflect on whether you have the capacity to
set-up and manage your own hosting scheme or
alternatively, would volunteers benefit from the
support of joining an existing hosting scheme,
such as the one run by Housing Justice?
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
20 A New Seaason A New Seaason
21Housing Justice
Hosting Project
Is Hosting legal? for a rent deposit with a clear pathway out of
homelessness. (See NACCOMS Hosting Toolkit
There is nothing intrinsically illegal about hosting.
p.16–22 for great case studies) Hosts report that
As long as the home owner is not receiving
they learn a lot from their guests, whether this be
payment for the accommodation, Right to Rent
about situations in different parts of the world or the
legislation does not apply.
realities of navigating the UK Asylum system. Bonds
and friendships are formed that often last way after
A robust Safeguarding Policy and Procedure
the hosting placement ends.
should set out in detail how you will approach the
vetting of hosts as well as any staff and volunteers.
Whether you need to carry out Disclosure and
Home From Home
Barring Service (DBS) checks or not will depend In 2017, with support of Housing Justice and
on the host / volunteer or job role and whether any NAACOM, C4WS Homeless Project set up their
of those hosted are classed as a vulnerable adult own hosting project called Home From Home:
under the relevant legislation. The term ‘vulnerable C4WS Home From Home
adult’ describes people “over the age of eighteen,
towards whom the state has specific safeguarding “It has been inspiring to see how Home From Home
responsibilities, because of their age or mental has embodied all the core values of C4WS with
capacity, or because they are receiving certain volunteer hosts taking the heart and ethos of the winter
types of health and social care”. (NACCOM, night shelter, quite literally, into their own homes.
Hosting Toolkit, 2020) It is an expansion of the shelter beyond our traditional
understanding and is an innovation that demonstrates
What are the benefits of Hosting? both the need for such a service and the compassion
Hosting offers a wide range of benefits for amongst human beings to support each other.”
everyone involved – guests, hosts and an
opportunity for you to develop your organisation’s What next?
work. Hosting provides safe and secure housing to If you are interested in setting up a Hosting
vulnerable migrants who often have very limited Scheme or have volunteers interested in becoming
options. It offers a period of stability for refused hosts with Housing Justice, please contact London
asylum seekers to work on resolving their Catalyst Team member, Jenna –
immigration cases, and for guests eligible j.roberts@housingjustice.org.uk
to work, having the opportunity to save
Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network
22 A New Seaason A New Seaason
23Housing Justice The Foundry, Unit G12 17 Oval Way, Vauxhall London, SE11 5RR info@housingjustice.org.uk 020 3752 5635 © 2020 Housing Justice Charity no. 294666. Company no. 2017207.
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