This section provides a list of agencies and charities that support those affected by homelessness and other related issues. Please note that the list is by no means exhaustive.
Useful contacts:
homeless organisations ¦ veterans ¦ debt ¦ drugs and alcohol ¦ domestic violence
Homeless organisations:
Business Action on Homelessness
www.bitc.org.uk
Launched in 1998, Business Action on Homelessness (BAOH) is a unique partnership between business, homeless agencies and the Government. BAOH aims to break the vicious cycle of no job, no home, through helping homeless people to find employment and achieve independent living.
Centrepoint
www.centrepoint.org.uk
Centrepoint is a national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded homeless young people. It provides a range of services, including emergency night shelters and short stay hostels, specialist projects for care leavers, ex-offenders, young single parents, foyers and supported flats, and floating support services.
Crisis
www.crisis.org.uk
Crisis is a national charity that fights homelessness and empowers people to fulfil their potential and transform their lives. Crisis defines its wider constituency as single homeless people. The focus of their work is on hidden homeless people who may be living in hostels and bed and breakfasts, or sleeping on friends and family's floors.
Depaul Trust
www.depaultrust.org
Depaul Trust has made a name for itself by working with the most disadvantaged young people in the UK. They work in communities where poverty and long-term unemployment have resulted in generations of social exclusion and high rates of homelessness. Whilst their work with homeless young people continues to be a central part of what they do, they have developed new services and opened new projects that not only help individual young people but - crucially - whole communities where homelessness and anti-social behaviour are rife.
Emmaus
www.emmaus.org.uk
Emmaus Communities offer homeless men and women a home, work and the chance to rebuild their self-respect in a supportive, community environment. Companions, as residents are known, work full time refurbishing donated furniture and household goods and selling them in the community shop. The community aims to become self-sufficient through this activity.
Homeless Link
www.homeless.org.uk
Homeless Link, the umbrella group for organisations working with and for the homeless, is dedicated to making homelessness a thing of the past. They work with their members, other partners, and homeless people themselves to raise standards in supporting the homeless. They also work, on behalf of their members, with government to help end homelessness by influencing the development of policy, strategy and investment.
Homeless Link have created a page dedicated for organisations using volunteers in homelessness services: http://www.homeless.org.uk/developyourservice/topics/staff/volunteer.
HOPE worldwide UK
www.hopeworldwide.org.uk
HOPE worldwide – UK was established in 1991 with the mission to 'Bring hope to a hurting world'. HOPE worldwide works with socially excluded people in the UK and overseas, including those disadvantaged by homelessness.
leavinghome.info
www.www.leavinghome.info
The online guide to leaving home and housing for young people in Scotland.
Off the Streets and into Work
www.osw.org.uk
OSW is a registered charity that tackles homelessness by supporting individuals to access education, training, volunteering and employment.
St Mungo's
www.mungos.org
St Mungo's helps over 10 000 homeless and vulnerable people to make life changes each year. St Mungo's believes that everyone should have a decent place to live, something meaningful to do, and satisfying relationships with other people - as well as the good health to enjoy them.
Shelter
www.shelter.org.uk
Shelter believes everyone should have a home. They help more than 170 000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet and find and keep a home. They also tackle the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies, and solutions. Shelter Families Project provide practical help and support for families in temporary accommodation, to help them resettle into permanent tenancies.
The Salvation Army
www.salvationarmy.org.uk
The Salvation Army is one of the largest, most diverse providers of social services in the UK after the Government. Founded in East London in 1865, it is now working in 111 countries worldwide, including providing professional services to meet the need of homeless individuals.
YMCA
www.ymca.org.uk
The YMCA is a leading Christian charity committed to supporting all young people, particularly in times of need. It is the largest voluntary sector provider of safe, supported accommodation in England for single men and women between the ages of 16 and 35.
Veterans organisations:
Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation
www.oswaldstoll.org.uk
TEL: 0207 385 2110.
The Sir Oswald Stoll Foundation is a charity and Registered Social Landlord which provides housing and enabling services to disabled and homeless ex-Service personnel.
SSAFA
www.ssafa.org.uk
TEL: 0845 1300 975.
SSAFA Forces Help offers a range of support to members of the Armed Forces and their families, including specialist housing advice for ex-service personnel.
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA)
www.veterans-uk.info
FREE Veterans-UK Helpline 0800 169 2277.
The SPVA's Veterans-UK helpline provides confidential advice for anyone who has served in HM Armed Forces, even for just one day. The service is also available to families and dependents of veterans. For those requiring one to one support, the Veterans Welfare Service is based in 25 offices throughout the UK and Ireland. Welfare Managers provide support for veterans in their local area, including contacting local authorities, applying for disability pensions and benefits, social services and much more.
Combat Stress
www.combatstress.org.uk
TEL 01372 841600 .
Combat Stress is the only Service charity providing specialist treatment and support to Veterans suffering from mental health problems incurred in the line of duty.
JSHAO
www.army.mod.uk/soldierwelfare
The JSHAO provides Service personnel and their dependants with civilian housing advice and information. It also helps a small number of those leaving Service accommodation to find appropriate civilian housing.
Veterans Aid
www.veterans-aid.net
TEL 020 7828 2468.
Veterans Aid exists to provide direct and immediate help to vulnerable veterans. Help is available if you are homeless or are likely to become homeless, regardless of how long you served or whether you were in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army, RAF or Merchant Service.
Thames Reach
www.thamesreach.org.uk
Thames Reach is a London based charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people across the capital. It helps men and women who are sleeping rough to move into accommodation, and supports people who have been homeless in the past as well as those in danger of losing the roof over their head.
Last year, Thames Reach's 375 staff and 60 volunteers helped 3,3739 of London's most vulnerable men and women.
The Royal British Legion
www.britishlegion.org.uk
TEL 08457 725 725.
Founded in 1921 as a voice for the ex-service community, The Royal British Legion provides financial, social and emotional support to millions who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces and their dependants.
Scottish Veterans Residences (SVR)
www.svronline.org
Supporting independent living for the ex-service community. SVR is Scotland's oldest ex-service charity, founded in 1910 to support independent living for ex-service men and women and their spouses of all ages of all ages who find themselves homeless or in times of need.
The Scottish Veterans Garden City Association
www.housesforheroes.org.uk
The Scottish Veteran's Garden City Association was formed in 1915 with the aim of providing low-cost accommodation for disabled ex-servicemen and Merchant Navy personnel. The association has 596 houses in 74 Districts throughout Scotland.
Haig Homes
www.haighomes.org.uk
Haig Homes is the leading UK provider of rental housing for ex-service people. The trusts exists to provide housing assistance to the ex-service community and / or their dependants in 47 Local Authorities.
Debt advice organisations:
Citizens Advice Bureaux
www.citizensadvice.org.uk
The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free information and advice from over 3 000 locations and by influencing policymakers.
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
www.cccs.co.uk
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service offers free advice and information to those affected by debt.
National Debtline
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
A helpline that provides free confidential and independent advice to those in debt.
Drugs and alcohol advice organisations:
Al-Anon
www.al-anonuk.org.uk
Support for family and friends of alcoholics.
Alcoholics Anonymous
www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk
Alcoholics Anonymous is a self-help group who share their experience with each other, so that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Families Anonymous
www.famanon.org.uk
Support for the relatives and friends of people with drug problems.
Re-cover
www.re-cover.org.uk
Helping people recover from alcoholism and other addictions.
Domestic violence organisations:
ManKind
www.mankind.org.uk
ManKind helps and advises male victims of domestic violence.
Refuge
www.refuge.org.uk
Refuge's network of safe houses provides emergency accommodation for women and children when they are most in need.
Women's Aid
www.womensaid.org.uk
Women's Aid is the national domestic violence charity that helps over 320 000 women and children every year. They work to end violence against women and children, and co-ordinate and support over 500 domestic and sexual violence services across the country.
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