London City Mission – Hope Community Homes

While it is essential that homeless people receive basic necessities and practical support, such as food and clothes, many also need help dealing with deep-seated issues that may be the root cause of their homelessness. Others may need support overcoming habits developed on the streets and others support as they make the transition from life on the streets back into community.

The need

Launched in April 2012, Hope Community Homes offers accommodation in the form of one-bedroom flats to rough sleepers who have been identified through the work of London City Mission’s Webber Street homeless centre in Waterloo.

The central part of London City Mission’s model is the outreach workers who provide practical, emotional and spiritual support to the tenants in order that they can address some of the root causes of their instability and unhappiness.

After their successful collaboration with CRASH to refurbish the Webber Street Day Centre, London City Mission approached the charity for assistance with refurbishing three of the flats at Hope Community Homes.

The solution

CRASH called upon patrons to support this refurbishment project.

How patrons helped

CRASH responded by providing pro bono professional expertise from Patrons EC Harris and Dulux Trade as well as sourcing materials from fellow Patrons British Gypsum, Buildbase, Knauf and interior and exterior paint from Dulux Trade. Donations of flooring were made from Altro and Heckmondwike.

The Story of Christmas Appeal, who also supported the Webber Street Day Centre, awarded the project a cash grant of £25,000.

The social impact

Earlier this year, a team of 12 twelve volunteers from Balfour Beatty’s began the challenge of tackling the gardens at Hope Community Homes. Lead by Operational Standards Manager Jo Raeburn, the volunteers cleared piles of debris and weeds, constructed new raised beds, painted the picket fence, stained the boundary fence and laid paving slabs. Dulux Trade and Travis Perkins made donations of paint, wood stain, fence posts and paving slabs. Now that work is completed on the building, the team is set to return to work with the new residents and put the finishing touches to the outside space.

Video: Here is Paul’s story.  He is a resident at Hope Community Homes