We’re once again celebrating the best of the homelessness sector and are thrilled to announce the shortlisted entries for this year’s awards!
Open exclusively to Homeless Link members, the annual Excellence Awards highlight the innovative and impactful work happening across the sector.
This year, as homelessness organisations tackle a soar in demand and navigate cuts to funding, it feels more important than ever to highlight the tireless and inspirational work going on across the country to ensure people have a place to call home and the support they need to keep it.
We were delighted to receive 127 entries across five categories for the 2023 awards.
Our expert judging panel have now whittled it down to a shortlist of 43 impressive entries.
We updated this year's award categories to better recognise the wide range of services our members deliver to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and it’s really shone through in the entries.
Across them all, it has been fantastic to see the increasingly trauma-informed and person-centred approach and what a difference our members are making to people experiencing and at risk of homelessness.
The shortlist includes organisations of all shapes and sizes from across the country. From projects showing innovative cross-sector collaborations with health to innovative housing solutions and specialised support including for asylum seekers, women and people deemed “hard to reach”.
We’re delighted to have external judges joining us to share their expertise, including: Suzannah Young, Policy Officer, National Housing Federation; Sarah Faber, Investment Director, Big Issue Invest; Ross Watkins, Acting Director, Emmaus SLC; and Steve Benson, former Chief Executive of Two Saints, now an independent consultant in the homelessness sector.
They’ll be joined by Homeless Link staff Sirea Jabar, Rick Henderson, Kate Alaway and Jo Prestidge to make the critical decisions and name a stand-out winner for each category.
Here is the full shortlist:
Excellence in supported housing
This award recognises high-quality, safe accommodation options for individuals or couples experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.
The nominees are:
- Moving On Durham
- The Marylebone Project
- Porchlight
- Action Foundation
- Hope into Action UK
- Notting Hill Genesis HA
- SJOG Hospitaller Services - Olallo House
- Your Place
- Great Places Housing Group - Docherty House
- Jimmy's Cambridge
Excellence in support and navigation
This award celebrates inclusive and compassionate projects or services providing the right support to meet individuals’ specific, diverse needs and aspirations.
The nominees are:
- North Lincolnshire Council
- Hope Projects
- Exeter Navigator Team
- Herts Young Homeless
- Second Step
- Good Shepherd Services
- Rochdale Rough Sleeper Partnership
- Booth Centre
- Connection Support
- Cranstoun
- P3
Best health and wellbeing initiative
This award celebrates health initiatives that are inclusive and accessible to everyone reducing health inequalities, and that are leading to improved physical and mental health outcomes enabling people to recover and remain well.
The nominees are:
- Falcon Support Services
- Providence Row
- The Ferry Project
- Harbour Housing
- Porchlight
- Connection Support
- SJOG Hospitaller Services - Olallo House
- Homeless Health CIC
- Hope for Southall Street Homeless
Outstanding achievement in outreach and rough sleeper provision
This award recognises approaches that either prevent rough sleeping from happening in the first place, or tailored, rapid responses that intervene and help someone recover and build an independent life off the streets where it does happen.
The nominees are:
- SHP, the Women's Development Unit and St Mungo's
- The Spires Centre
- Porchlight
- Changing Lives
- St Basils
- Connection Support
- Greater Change
- Riverside
Social Enterprise of the year
This award recognises social enterprises that can demonstrate a clear mission and strategic direction alongside a social impact that is creating better outcomes for individuals experiencing homelessness.
The nominees are:
What's next?
We will announce the winners in early July, so make sure to stay tuned to our social media channels to find out who will be crowned as the winner!