Whilst those sleeping rough on our streets are the most visible presentation of homelessness, there is also so much ‘hidden homelessness’. Those sofa surfing with friends or family, those staying in night shelters or hostels, those in temporary accommodation (B&Bs or private nightly lets), those sleeping in their vehicles, or in insecure accommodation.
Our church communities across London are offering many different types of support to those who experience, or are at risk of homelessness. Many are vitally thinking about how we can work to prevent, as well as respond to, homelessness.
Below you can find more details and case studies of some of these types of provision. Our friends at Housing Justice have produced the ‘Many Rooms’ report, an excellent read for churches reflecting on how they might respond to homelessness in their own community.
If you’re considering starting something in your church in this area, or if you’re already doing something that you’d like to share, please do get in touch.
Providing Accommodation
Our London church communities provide a range of accommodation for those who experience, or are at risk of, homelessness.
Hosting
Does anyone in your London church community have a spare room?
The Diocese of London work in partnership with the charity Housing Justice to provide temporary accommodation for London’s destitute asylum-seekers, refugees and other forced migrants, while they resolve their immigration status.
You can find out more on our dedicated hosting section here or another excellent hosting scheme is run by Refugees at Home.
Lodging
Would anyone in your church consider becoming a resident landlord?
Housing Justice have a new lodging scheme particularly for newly recognised refugees facing the prospect of homelessness. They offer a supported opportunity to become a resident landlord, and host a refugee for up to 6 months whilst earning extra income. You can find more details here.
Night shelters
Many of our London churches are involved in Night shelters. Pre-pandemic these were usually traditional ‘dormitory’ style night shelters, with camp beds in churches/church halls. Since the pandemic some shelters have transitioned to providing single room accommodation. You can read about the experience of Ealing Churches Winter Night Shelter here, or the night shelter This is GrowTH here.
Many of our churches work in partnership with Housing Justice who run the Winter Night Shelter Network, and can provide support to churches on night shelter provision. See here for more details.
Providing affordable housing
Please refer to our Housing pages for more information on how you can explore providing affordable housing as a church community.
Providing supportive homes for those who experience homelessness
We have churches in London who partner with the charity Hope Into Action to provide homes for those who are homeless. You can read the experience of St Hilda’s church partnership with Hope Into Action and their local women’s prison here.
Or watch a short film about this partnership below.
A Home and a Place of Hope: The Story of St Hilda's House, Ashford
Providing Homelessness Support
Many of our churches provide relational support, journeying alongside those who experience homelessness. This can take many different forms but can look like hospitality and friendship, or mentoring and befriending.
A good existing London based scheme is Home for Good at The Passage and you can read about the experience of St James’s, Piccadilly and their befriending project in partnership with The Passage here.
Advocacy and Prevention
We are particularly interested in churches in London who may be providing advice, advocacy and support intended to prevent a person becoming homeless in the first place. If you are a church working in this area, do get in contact with us.
Providing Food
Please refer to our Food Insecurity pages for more information on the different ways our churches are responding around food insecurity.
Homelessness and Immigration & Asylum
There is often intersection between immigration issues and housing need or homelessness. You can read about the experience of Hope For Southall Street Homeless who provide food, friendship and life-changing care, and advice to those with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) here.
Please refer to our Asylum and Refugee Support pages for more information on the different ways our churches are responding to homelessness amongst refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.