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Advocates For The Homeless
Origins
Advocates for the Homeless is a small registered charity operating in the London borough of Southwark which provides help and advice to homeless people, particularly around moving people into training or work
They found that some of their clients had experience in construction but had lost touch with it due to their homelessness and that others wanted to move in that direction, but needed to acquire skills and qualifications. However, they were aware that opportunities to get onto construction training courses in London were limited and that what was available tended to be too inflexible for their clients and provided insufficient support
The Training Project
Advocates therefore decided to set up some training of their own which would be in a real working environment and in a building which would actually be renovated for occupation. They used our contacts in Southwark and spoke with the Regeneration department of the Council, hoping to sell our idea to them. Ultimately, they were able to secure a 10 year lease on a disused 1960s former GP’s surgery in Camberwell next to a tower block, which comprised a ground floor surgery with a three bed flat above which used to be attached to the surgery. The building had been empty for about seven years, but had no major structural issues.
After assembling funding (see below) they began the training and renovation programme in August 2007. The downstairs has now been renovated as offices for themselves and another charity. While the first floor has been re-instated as a self-contained three-bed flat with living room and kitchen which has been let to a family on the Council’s waiting list.
The Trainees
During the project the trainees learnt various skills including: plaster boarding; plastering; carpentry; and painting & decorating. They also had the chance to develop their skills working as a team. In addition, they were provided with support to access further training and ultimately paid employment. That said, some trainees simply wanted to improve their DIY skills in readiness for a move from a hostel to their own self-contained accommodation.
Funding
Advocates accessed an Empty Homes grant through Southwark Council to help with the cost of the residential part. They also received help from CRASH, the construction industry charity which assists other homeless organizations with a grant and with free electrical hardware (the building required total rewiring). A local surveyor also kindly donated a lot of time to the project.
Next Steps
Advocates are currently in negotiations with Southwark for another building which they will use to undertake another project.
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