People First
It is vital that individuals experiencing homelessness are given the right support to meet their needs and aspirations and improve wellbeing. This applies to everyone but particular groups face specific challenges.
Our People First strategy
Developing tools and resources to support people experiencing homelessness into a wide range of employment, volunteering and life skills training opportunities
Increasing our support for activities that encourage wellbeing, self-expression and empowerment, in particular by promoting community-based solutions based on individual needs and wants
Ensuring that the key role faith-based and non-commissioned community organisations can play in supporting people out of homelessness is fully recognised and acknowledged, both locally and nationally
Championing Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion both in our own work and across the sector, ensuring that the diverse needs of people experiencing homelessness are identified and met in the most appropriate ways
Ensuring the specific needs of women and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness are recognised in both policy and practice, including in local commissioning arrangements and national strategies
Continuing our work as part of the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) coalition to improve the way that services across different sectors support people facing multiple disadvantage and create long-term changes to local and national systems
Identifying and promoting policy and practice approaches that effectively meet the housing, support and advice needs of non-UK citizens who are homeless and those with no recourse to public funds
Supporting LGBTQI+ people
As a result, LGBTQI+ individuals can struggle to get the right support, delaying their progression out of homelessness and increasing the risk of further disadvantage or exclusion. We have worked with partners such as the Outside Project and akt to develop guidance and resource of services supporting LGBTQI+ people.
Supporting Non-UK Nationals
We have developed a range of resources and training courses to equip homelessness services with the information and expertise to meet the needs of Non-UK Nationals.
Resources and guidance for supporting Non-UK Nationals
We have a range of resources and guidance for supporting non-UK Nationals:
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Supporting non-EEA Migrants
This webinar, delivered as part of the Strategic Alliance on Migrant Destitution, looks at what support is available for non-EEA migrants who find themselves rough sleeping and with no recourse to public funds (NRPF).
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NRPF – what is it and why does it matter?
This workshop looks at the meaning of No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) and who is affected by it, as well as the impact it has on homelessness. Speakers highlight what services those with NRPF can access and will look at the most common pathways from no recourse to recourse.
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Accommodation solutions for with NRPF & people leaving the asylum system
This session will be looking at accommodation solutions for people with No Recourse to Public Funds, what has worked and what organisations have learnt from the ‘Everyone In’ government scheme under Covid-19.
Ending women's homelessness
Homeless Link administered funds received from the Tampon Tax Fund totalling £1.85m to twenty nine projects. The 29 grantees spanned the homelessness and women’s sector and beyond including front-line services and some second-tier organisations. Some were women-only projects and others were mixed services that recognised the need to enhance provision for women. Grantees included a mix of mainstream and specialist services for Black and minoritised women, women involved in prostitution and LGBT women.
Supporting young people
Funded by Comic Relief, our youth homelessness work is dedicated to identifying interventions, opportunities and risks to specifically prevent and respond to Youth Homelessness.
Through working with our members and other organisations working with young people impacted by homelessness we will build a strong national voice on youth homelessness.
Resources and guidance for supporting young people
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Youth Homelessness Resources: Toolkits
Resources developed by our Youth Homelessness Project, helping homelessness services, commissioners and policy-makers to recognise and respond to the specific needs of young people.
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Youth Homelessness Resources: Guidance
Supporting homeless 16- and 17-year-olds - guidance for voluntary and community sector organisations.
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Supporting young women: learning from the sector
The following presentations were delivered in December 2020 at the Homeless Link young Women’s Network Event, drawing learning from our youth and women’s homelessness work.
For more information about our work on youth homelessness
