Re-housing support

 A good home provides shelter, security, peace of mind and a base to grow from. In 2019 over 87,000  families and households were stuck in temporary housing across  London.  Often, due to their financial circumstances they cannot afford to turn this accommodation into a functioning home. This can affect their health and well-being , as well as their families.   

 Once someone is re-housed the problems do not end there. Having to fund and furnish a home can cause financial hardship, debt and anxiety.  Often the people we support are vulnerable and need guidance as to which items they need most.  Our aim is to make the process more manageable, and pleasant by providing practical  goods and l advice, without judgement, to create a good home foundation.    

  We support the transition into new accommodation by providing a variety of home starter kits, white goods and furniture. These consist of a mixture of new and quality second hand goods, ensuring that our funding and donations go as far as possible. The following is a general guide of what we provide, however kits can be tailored to ensure we meet support needs. 

What’s included: Fridge, freezer, cooker, kettle, microwave, washing machine. Goods are allocated after a successful application process.

Why: White goods are amongst the most expensive household items and are vital to create a healthy lifestyle.  The people we support have low incomes and may not have a good credit rating. These expensive items create long term value for money as everyday meals and cleaning clothes is cheaper in house. Offering white goods, alleviates the stress of these large expenses, creates a good home environment and avoids debt.

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What’s included: Cutlery, plate and bowl set, tea towels, sponges, mugs, 2 saucepans, frying pan,

Why: Having the right equipment to cook from home, helps someone recently re-housed lead a more independent life. Without a good kitchen set up, those recently re-housed may have to rely on other options. Take-away and ready meals are often both expensive and unhealthy. Setting up a basic kitchen avoids hunger and promotes a healthy lifestyle.  

What’s included: Antibacterial spray, washing up liquid, J-cloths, sponges, dustpan and brush, bin bags, bleach,

Why: Not all new homes are provided in good condition. This kit can go a long way to make a new home clean and its new residents more comfortable. 

What’s included: Single mattress, 2 bed sheets, pillow, 2x pillow case, quilt, 2x quilt covers,

Why: A good nights sleep is important for both mental and physical health. Having a low income means budgets need to prioritise living expenses such as rent, gas and electric and food before other household necessities

  What: A box full of food essentials tailored to the needs of each household. For example, eggs, bread, pasta, cereal,

Why: Often the people we support are re-housed with little notice. Perhaps they are fleeing gang or domestic violence and cannot just nip out and get food essentials.  Food banks may have long referral times and sometimes it is not a safe or viable option to go out and collect food. Someone on a low income, without a car, with small children and fleeing domestic violence may find it impossible to collect food. In this situation we try and support by providing a box of food essentials.