Centre for Homelessness Impact

Applications for our new Chair of Trustees close at midnight tomorrow - Tuesday 11 March. We're looking for someone with a deep commitment to ending homelessness through the better use of evidence. This is an important and active role that supports us in making a tangible impact. Find out more and apply via the link below.

Applications close at midnight on the 11th March. The role of the Chair will be to act as a catalyst, encouraging the whole Board and Executive team to work together, and involve being an active advocate and proponent for the Centre's mission to help expand its reach and networks. Please share with your networks, or anyone who might be interested.

Applications for a ground-breaking project that is testing cash transfers as an intervention to support people out of homelessness close this Friday! If you are an organisation operating in London or Belfast and are supporting people who have experience of rough sleeping and who are currently in some form of temporary accommodation, we invite you to get involved. Cash transfers involve making a payment directly into someone's bank account with no conditions on how the money should be spent. Funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity and Citi, we are carrying out this evaluation with the aim to understand the impact of direct cash transfers on people’s housing outcomes and wellbeing. One-off financial support at the right time could enable a life-changing step away from rough sleeping. Find out more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/evuqTmTg

A great opportunity to see and hear at first hand how parts of our homeless hostels system are working and the pressures they face. Our chief executive Lígia Teixeira and director of programmes and implementation Michelle Binfield were joined by colleagues from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury to visit south London hostel and assessment centres run by Thames Reach. Thanks to our hosts and to to Lorraine McGrath of Simon Community Scotland and Katie Dalton of Cymorth Cymru for joining to share their expertise and insights. At the Centre for Homelessness Impact we are working with partners who deliver hostels and other crisis response services to map the typology of the current system as a first step towards evaluating what hostel models work well and provide value for money, and which do less well. Our goal is to work with others to reimagine the services provided by hostels to improve the lives of people impacted by homelessness. #homelessness #hostels #mapping #evidence

In the complex world of homelessness, where challenges seem insurmountable and solutions often elusive, it's easy to get lost in the weeds. We grapple with immediate crises, responding to urgent needs and putting out fires. But what if we could take a step back, rise above the daily struggles, and gain a bird's eye view of the entire system? Our CEO, Lígia Teixeira, and Stephen Aldridge from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government discuss the ambition and interim findings of the groundbreaking Systems-wide Evaluation. https://lnkd.in/esnRacpb

We’re excited to announce that the first report from our ground-breaking evaluation on homelessness and rough sleeping has been published. This is the first time the government has taken a comprehensive look at the systems that impact homelessness. Our evaluation has uncovered significant barriers, including fragmentation, overlapping funding streams and misalignment with policies across various government departments and their partners. While this is complex, challenging work—especially when trying to determine cause and effect within interconnected systems—the insights we’ve gained are already driving positive change within government. The Systems-wide Evaluation of the homelessness and rough sleeping system was led by the Centre for Homelessness Impact, and our delivery partners Cordis Bright and RSM UK Consulting, commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). We’re proud of the progress made so far and are committed to continuing this important work. Read the full report here - https://lnkd.in/e9qc3csr

* Applications open * Are you an organisation supporting people who have experience of rough sleeping and who are currently in some form of temporary accommodation in either London or Belfast? Do you want to join a ground-breaking project that is testing cash transfers as an intervention to support people out of homelessness? With the support of St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity and Citi, we are evaluating whether giving money directly to individuals with experience of street homelessness will enable them to move on from homelessness permanently. Not through a charity or a Local Authority but directly into their own bank account. Previous studies from across the world have demonstrated that a direct cash transfer can lead to improved outcomes, but not many programmes have tested the impact of giving personal grants to people experiencing homelessness. Find out more and apply here (applications close Friday 7th March): https://lnkd.in/evuqTmTg

At the Centre for Homelessness Impact, we believe in taking a data-driven approach to understanding and ending homelessness. Hostels are a crucial part of the homelessness crisis response system. Yet, surprisingly little is known about the diverse landscape of hostel provision in 21st century Britain.  Michelle Binfield and Bill Tidnam from Thames Reach discuss the findings from our latest groundbreaking report, and the vital role hostels play in the homelessness sector. https://lnkd.in/dGjQFQBn

What is a hostel in 21st century Britain? To date, despite common assumptions, little is known about the diverse landscape of hostel provision in 21st century Britain. That's why we set out to map the characteristics of hostels across the UK to answer this fundamental question. Based on the largest ever survey of UK hostels, this new report provides a comprehensive overview of current provision and, using this as a foundation, proposes a new taxonomy and a roadmap for testing different models and service interventions. Read the report: https://lnkd.in/dqmrzAC5  You can also join us online on Friday to discuss the findings with others in the sector and to consider the scope for re-imagining hostels. Register here - https://lnkd.in/e-HVJczy 

Sometimes the simplest approaches can be the most effective. We know that financial insecurity is one of the main structural factors behind homelessness. So giving no strings attached financial assistance directly to individuals in adversity is a potentially powerful - and simple - solution for people affected by homelessness. Our CEO, Lígia Teixeira, shares some initial findings and next steps for this pioneering project we're delivering alongside our partners including St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, Citi Foundation, The Policy Institute, The Wallich, Simon Community Scotland, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Aspire Oxfordshire. As we look to establish an evidence base for the impact of financial assistance for people with experience of homelessness, we're building on this work. Applications are now open as we expand the locations to London and Belfast. https://lnkd.in/eMDN2Gyw