£1 million grant helps The Salvation Army support people facing homelessness

Our funding comes at a time when homelessness services are facing increasing pressure, with charities reporting growing numbers of people sleeping rough or unable to access housing support.

How will the Benefact Trust grant support homelessness?

The three-year grant will allow The Salvation Army to provide accommodation and tailored support to people who are sleeping rough because they aren’t considered a priority for housing by their local council, or because they’re waiting for housing to become available. This support will also be for emergency cases where people have been classified as ‘intentionally homeless’ or have no access to public funds due to their visa or immigration status. This leaves them with no options, other than life on the streets.

The number of people supported through this grant will depend on local demand and individual support needs, but it’s estimated to be over 100 people in total. The project will complement The Salvation Army’s existing homelessness services that are providing supported accommodation to over 2,000 people every night.

Nick Redmore, Director of Homeless Services at The Salvation Army, said: “We are extremely grateful to Benefact Trust. We have long campaigned for a change to eligibility for local authority accommodation so vulnerable people aren’t left sleeping rough. This generous grant will make a significant difference to our ability to help fill this critical gap in the housing and homelessness system.

“Homelessness is often rooted in trauma and compounded by systematic challenges, so our Lifehouses are much more than somewhere to stay. They are places where people who have often felt ignored and abandoned can access support tailored to their individual needs and aspirations to help them build a more stable future. Crucially, we take a trauma-informed and harm-reduction approach that focuses on safety and dignity. With this additional funding we will now have the flexibility to respond to emerging need and direct our support where it can have the greatest impact.”

Alongside accommodation in a ‘Lifehouse,’ each resident will be assigned a dedicated support worker who will help them access healthcare, find employment or training opportunities and specialist help for debt or addiction to prepare them for independent living.

Paul Playford, Senior Grants and Programmes Officer for Benefact Trust, said: “Benefact Trust is proud to support this vital expansion of homelessness provision. We recognise that homelessness is a growing crisis and there is a real need to reach people who have nowhere else to turn.

“Our ethos is to help the most vulnerable, and The Salvation Army’s commitment to offering dignity, safety and hope align deeply with our values. This funding will help ensure that people who fall through the gaps in the system are not forgotten but given the chance to rebuild their lives and given the opportunity to flourish.”

The grant forms part of Benefact Trust's commitment to supporting organisations that tackle poverty, homelessness and social exclusion, helping vulnerable people access practical support and opportunities to rebuild their lives.

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