A groundbreaking new initiative funded by the Trust for London and Oak Foundation has awarded over £1 million in grants to organisations across London working to improve the lives of the over 60,000 households in London living in temporary accommodation.
The Better Temporary Accommodation for Londoners fund builds on findings that there are not enough organisations supporting Londoners in temporary accommodation, and that those that do exist are often working in isolation and struggling with limited resources.
The work that will take place under the initiative ranges from hyper-local to London-wide, and includes work to build stronger voices, connections and influence for those in temporary accommodation, as well as casework and legal support.
Explore the 11 funded projects and organisations below, as well as our partners in developing networks and connections for organisations working in the field.
The Central Hill Estate Residents Association has supported residents of the Central Hill Estate, which consists of 465 properties and is now facing demolition, for more than 20 years.
They will use the funding to survey the needs of temporarily housed residents across the estate, and to empower them to solve issues through communication with the relevant bodies.
Creating Ground CIC works with women from migrant backgrounds to promote cross-cultural awareness, learning and sharing across South East London.
This funding will allow the CIC to expand on the work of its ‘Stronger Together’ leaders – a group of 20 migrant women who are taking action to improve temporary accommodation in Greenwich.
Golden Opportunity Skills and Development (GOSAD) is an Ealing-based charity working to support people from socially disadvantaged parts of the local community and help them flourish.
We have awarded GOSAD funding to provide support to people in accessing Temporary Accommodation, resolving issues with accommodation, and influencing policy.
Groundswell works with people with experience of homelessness, offering opportunities to help create solutions to homelessness.
Groundswell has been awarded a development grant, to co-design a project into temporary accommodation, health and homelessness with people with lived experience.
Justlife is a nationwide organisation working with people living in temporary accommodation – including through frontline work in Manchester and Brighton.
The funding will allow Justlife to establish new Temporary Accommodation Action Groups in five London boroughs, to amplify the voices of residents and enable them to influence for change, both locally and nationally.
London Gypsies and Travellers challenge social exclusion and discrimination, working in partnership with Gypsy and Traveller communities.
We have awarded it funding to increase awareness of the needs of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities living in temporary accommodation, and to support GRT families to raise their collective voice and influence policy.
London Renters Union (LRU) is a member-led campaigning union, providing housing support for renters and working to transform the housing system.
Our funding will contribute to LRU’s work to build public awareness and the power of temporary housing tenants to win significant improvements to their conditions, as well as wider policy change.
The Magpie Project works with mums and young children in temporary accommodation in Newham and surrounding boroughs. The project provides a whole host of services and support, building trusted relationships with the mums it works with and raising public awareness of the issues that affect them.
We have awarded the Magpie Project funding to support its work over the next three years, allowing them to build its capacity and voice.
Positive East is a charity supporting people living with HIV in East London.
The Better Temporary Accommodation Fund will allow Positive East to research the impact that living in TA has on individuals living with HIV, and to produce recommendations for local councils on how to best accommodate them. Alongside this, the team will be able to provide individual casework.
South West London Law Centres provides free legal advice and representation to people on low incomes, with the vision that everybody unable to afford a lawyer can receive equal access to assert their rights, is treated with dignity and respect, and is empowered to benefit from everything a healthy society can offer.
In partnership with Citizens Advice Croydon, the team will campaign on behalf of and with tenants of temporary accommodation in Wandsworth and Croydon, as well supporting them with individual legal support.
Z2K is an anti-poverty charity that combines direct casework and representation for Londoners with national campaigning for a better social security and housing system.
With this new funding Z2K will design and implement a new policy influencing campaign in the borough of Westminster, amplifying the voices of those with lived experience of temporary accommodation to influence decision makers.
Alongside the 11 organisations receiving grant funding, we are delighted to be working with Leila Baker and Mary Carter – who also provide vital support to the London Housing Panel – to deliver Networking and Development Support for the initiative.
This builds on their previous commissioned research into how funders can best support people living in Temporary Accommodation, to consult the sector on developing plans for the initiative and build a mailing list of over 80 organisations providing support or engaged in advocacy around Temporary Accommodation in London.
This element of the programme will connect grantees and people with lived experience of living in TA to one another, as well as to capacity-building support and opportunities to influence decision-making. Initially focusing on the 11 funded organisations, it is hoped that this will eventually build wider networks and contribute to strengthening the infrastructure of support for Londoners in TA.
30 August
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