Maximising your impact: The latest work from the homelessness charities we’re funding

Before we get started

If you’d like to learn more about the various ways we help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, then join our newsletter for the latest updates.

Why our homelessness charity work is so important

Homelessness in the UK is a widespread issue which has only been getting worse over the past few years. Recent figures from across the sector highlight the devastating scale of homelessness across the country. According to The Big Issue, one in 200 households are living in emergency temporary housing, which is contributing to the UK having the highest rate of homelessness in the developed world. In England alone, the total number of households in temporary accommodation rose sharply from 48,000 to 112,000 from 2010 to 2023.

Although there have been some promising signs from the Labour Government on tackling homelessness, more still needs to be done. In our response to the Autumn Budget, we welcomed the Government’s plans to provide councils with £230 million to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, as well as an additional £500 million towards social housing. However, the Budget failed to mention anything about the Local Housing Allowance rate, which will be crucial in preventing and tackling homelessness.

It was encouraging to see confirmation from the Government on 18th December of almost £1 billion in funding for vital homelessness services to prevent rough sleeping and allow more people to move out of temporary accommodation. However, we need to see more determined efforts to build social housing and the development of an effective homelessness strategy that will ensure long-term change.

The need for action is tragically demonstrated in recent statistics from the Museum of Homelessness, which found that homeless deaths have increased by 12.2% from last year. They also found that people experiencing homelessness are three times more likely to be murdered, with street deaths rising by 42%. These figures show how important homelessness services are, and how more funding for specialist organisations is vital in preventing avoidable deaths.

By supporting St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, you’re helping people experiencing homelessness access vital support, allowing them to regain stability and safety in their lives.

What is our Frontline Fund?

The Frontline Fund allows us to provide vital funding to organisations that share our vision of ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home. Over £1.5 million is being distributed over three years to projects across the UK that address homelessness. Learn more about the Frontline Fund.

Your donations to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity ensures our Frontline Fund is there to support projects across the four nations. These specialised projects offer tailored services to help those experiencing homelessness, such as providing access to healthcare, legal advice or mental health support.

Many of the organisations we support through the Frontline Fund focus on specialist support for particular groups, such as LGBTQ+ youth, vulnerable and marginalised children and people who have recently left the criminal justice system. By offering both short-term and long-term solutions, these services work with each individual to help their unique situation.

Read on to hear about the incredible organisations supported by the Frontline Fund, thanks to your generous support.

Project Z, Caring in Bristol

Caring in Bristol aims to tackle homelessness in the city, through early prevention strategies. They run innovative projects such as Project Z, which focuses on supporting young people aged 16-25 experiencing homelessness, by providing the skills and resources they need to deal with their situation. St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity has provided funding to help expand this vital work, through the Frontline Fund.

The Project Z team offers comprehensive support to young people in Bristol through a dedicated practitioner. Participants can engage in courses on wellbeing, DIY and independent living skills, helping them build confidence and self-reliance. Additionally, the project provides access to fresh food during Bristol Youth Goods weekly sessions.

“Nine times out of ten, it’s not been great for them, so all they need is somebody to guide them through it. That’s all they need. Some support. That’s what we do, and we do it really well.” – Holly Bigwood, Youth Practitioner, Caring in Bristol.

Read more about youth homelessness in the UK.

Team Around The Tenancy, TGP Cymru

TGP Cymru works across Wales to support vulnerable children, young people and families. They ensure individuals can access essential services like education, healthcare and social care, addressing youth homelessness head-on. Our funding helps sustain their impactful Team Around The Tenancy (TATT) project, providing more all-round support to young people across North Wales.

“We tend to sway towards doing things with and not for the young people. We work holistically with them, depending on their situation and their needs, and we work to empower them to be able to work through these issues.” – Shaun Morris, Practitioner, TGP Cymru.

Learn about TGP Cymru’s service.

Legal Services Agency (LSA)

Based in Scotland, the Legal Services Agency (LSA) provides specialist legal advice to prevent homelessness and promote social justice, believing that everyone is entitled to specialist legal advice when they need it. Our funding focuses on their early intervention services, preventing homelessness for people who have been in contact with the criminal justice system and aiming to secure housing stability. This work is crucial for individuals facing complex legal and housing challenges.

Trans Pathway, akt

Another project benefiting from our Frontline Fund is Trans Pathway, a three-year pilot project based in Greater Manchester and run by leading LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity, akt. The charity supports LGBTQ+ youth aged 16-25 across the UK who are at risk of homelessness or living in hostile environments. Their Trans Pathway scheme, which is unique in the UK, has supported 72 trans+ young people facing homelessness so far. Our funding is helping akt expand the programme, ensuring trans youth receive safe housing and tailored support to rebuild their lives.

“We are grateful to St Martin’s Charity for funding the project over a three year period, which has allowed us time and space to provide consistent and sustained support to trans+ young people.” – Ben, Trans Pathway Manager, akt.

Learn more about LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness in the UK.

Legal Advice Project, Pathway

As the UK’s leading homeless healthcare charity, Pathway works to improve health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Our funding supports their Legal Advice Project, which provides advice around immigration status and housing rights for patients who are experiencing homelessness. This service is the only one of its kind, and ensures individuals can access the specialised support they need, such as a dedicated enquiry service, specialist case work and bespoke training sessions.

“Supporting our patients in this way really helps to improve their future health and life chances by ensuring they have access to the housing, benefits and support services they are entitled to. No other programme exists to bridge this crucial gap but, thanks to this funding, specialist legal advice providers have dealt with over 250 enquiries or legal cases in the past two years.” – Emma Thomson, Senior Project Manager, Pathway.

Learn more about Pathway’s Legal Advice Project.

Extern

Operating across the island of Ireland, Extern supports over 21,000 children, young people, individuals and families annually, including those with experience in the criminal justice system. Our funding enables Extern to provide counselling and holistic services for vulnerable people who are often excluded from mainstream support, allowing them to overcome challenges, empower positive change and support family unity.