Leicester
It has strengthened interfaith relations: throughout there has been a ‘real sense that this was the faith communities together
Summary
One Roof Leicester (ORL) is a charity which provides supported accommodation for people who are homeless, destitute refugees or refused asylum seekers. They currently provide 21 beds across six houses. A third of these beds are offered completely rent-free to those with no recourse to public funds. These ‘compassionate beds’ are the only such accommodation in the city. The rest of the beds are considerably cheaper than other accommodation. Their guests can stay for as long as they need – typically up to two years – until they are able to move into permanent accommodation.
Salma Ravat, a volunteer for the Islamic Society of Britain, developed her vision with a group including the Reverend Helen Hayes, a pioneer priest for people who are homeless, who is now the Chair of ORL. The Diocese host their offices, provide professional mentoring, and offer use of an empty vicarage for one of the supported homes. They work with churches and other faith groups to see the best way they can get involved: while they often provide befrienders, some church members have done gardening and decorating to get the houses ready for new residents, and a small elderly congregation donate toiletries.
ORL rely on philanthropic investors, who lease houses to them on a five-year agreement in exchange for an optional return of 2% a year. ORL managed the property during this time. They see themselves as enablers to philanthropists and faith groups who want to house the homeless, providing the expertise and professional help required to support residents.
They believe that they can provide a better service because they work holistically with their residents. They aim to provide a home, not a hostel. They also work on ‘the whole journey’ of rebuilding someone’s life, emphasising finding stable accommodation and employment rather than housing them without an ‘exit strategy’.
Background
Because of a significant rise in house prices in Leicester, along with a lack of social housing, many people live with the constant threat of falling into arrears. Many landlords apply a blanket ban on tenants in receipt of benefits. This means that if people get into trouble, their lives can unravel quickly. Although many of these problems reflect the national picture, Leicester had one of the highest levels of rough sleeping in England outside London.
Alongside these problems, there is a chronic shortage of temporary supported accommodation. Hostels have been centralised as a result of cuts in the early 2010s, meaning that specialisation and tailored services were gradually watered down. This left a system which is overwhelmed and inflexible.
Hoping to deal with these issues, in 2012 Salma Ravat – who was already involved in homelessness provision – brought together a network of those working with homeless people to see how they could respond more effectively. This included many representatives of local churches, including the Reverend Helen Hayes – a pioneer priest who works with people who are homeless. Mapping their joint assets and services, they noticed the gap in long term temporary supported accommodation. In particular, they realised that although there was support for some groups, those with ‘no recourse to public funds’ and single people were particularly badly provided for.
They were determined to meet this need, but keen not to ‘reinvent the wheel’. They set up a charity based on the models of Hope into Action and Boaz Trust (both Christian charities). Although they did not affiliate with Hope into Action – as they were explicitly multi-faith in their management – they purchased Hope into Action’s intellectual property in order to access their resources. They then approached the Diocese for initial funding and support. The Diocese provided three years of funding to employ Salma as a manager – an important step in professionalising their services. Helen also became the chair of trustees, making it a truly multi-faith project.
Impact
Seventy-five people have so far been accommodated in ORL homes, and thirty-six of them are now in secure accommodation. The flexibility of their provision means that – though they aim for their accommodation to be temporary – one resident has been with them for three and a half years. They have now been offered a permanent flat through the social housing waiting list. One resident even went all the way through their system – beginning in the night shelter they now run alongside their ORL homes, before being accommodated in one of their houses – and now has found their own place. This resident is also employed by ORL.
It also benefits the churches involved. For example, the congregation of St Denys, Evington have had ‘their eyes opened to the poverty on their doorstep’. Housebound members of this congregation have felt able to get involved in charity by donating to ORL because it’s ‘close and real’. It has also strengthened interfaith relations: throughout there has been a ‘real sense that this was the faith communities together’
Having built up the structures and relationships between faiths, ORL were able to launch the first interfaith night shelter in the country in 2016, where they provide space for ten rough sleepers every night – eighty people have used it overall. They aim to find sustainable accommodation for those who use the night shelter, and they are sometimes able to offer them a place in their own supported homes. Half of them are now in long term accommodation. They have also set up an emergency B&B service for those who are at severe risk if they sleep rough.
ORL are now in a position to plan for further expansion. They aim to ‘provide a pathway from rough sleeping to secure tenancies’. As well as getting more supported houses, they hope to provide permanent move-on accommodation for those who are ready.
What do you need?
The resources and templates provided by Hope into Action and Boaz Trust – such as rental contracts – were important in setting up the charity.
PERSONNEL
ORL has two full-time equivalent professional support workers between the twenty one residents.
They also have a full-time manager, Salma Ravat. Her determination and experience in the sector have clearly been important to their success.
In the early stages of development the support of the former Bishop of Leicester, the Right Reverend Tim Stevens, and the Diocesan secretary, Jonathan Kerry, was crucial.
The involvement of local faith communities – from volunteers to donations – has also enabled their work.
They emphasise the need for good governance from a strong and talented trustee board.
FINANCES
ORL funds its houses and workers through a mixture of donations and rents – paid for mainly out of housing benefit. The compassionate beds are funded purely through donations and grants.
ORL benefits from the leases from philanthropic investors. One of these investors is the Diocese itself, which provides an empty vicarage.
ORL also gets grants funding to cover their overheads and management.
They also pay a reduced rent for their office, which is in a building owned by the Diocese.
The Diocese has encouraged ORL to build other funding streams, so that the project is sustainable without becoming dependent on Diocesan funds.
Tips
You should seek to identify and meet gaps in local provision.
Don’t reinvent the wheel – learn from others already providing this service, such as Hope into Action and Boaz Trust.
The support of senior clergy and Diocesan staff can be crucial to church involvement in larger projects such as this.
If churches want to do this work, it is a good idea to found a separate charity rather than try to run this within your own structures.
If you are not able to start a project like this, there may be existing homelessness charities in your area that your church can help.
Good governance is key to providing proper support. This allows the support itself to be more compassionate while maintaining proper safeguards.
Non-financial forms of church support can be very valuable – for example mentoring or subsidised office space.
ORL’s first house was not as successful as they’d hoped. Don’t be scared to change the model.
Don’t grow too quickly – this will allow you to remain flexible and meet people’s needs.
Work with a range of people who can help you achieve your goals.
Don’t pay for things if you don’t need to. ORL has been able to get lots of support and help for free, for example pro bono legal assistance and furniture donations.
For more information about One Roof Leicester check out their website.