Voices from the frontline

In 2021, we ran a Connect programme - bringing together 12 passionate people working in the broad field of housing + homelessness in London. They worked across local authorities, central government, Parliament, homeless shelters, and advice centres, and some had their own lived experience of homelessness. The programme allowed those on the frontline of the homelessness crisis to share their deep insights, sparking some exciting ideas about how they could trial new ideas to improve outcomes for people on the sharpest end of this crisis.

Since then, after a long pandemic, a cost of living crisis, and an election, the housing + homelessness situation has evolved enormously. So we wanted to find out where we are today -  by asking those directly involved on the frontline, hearing stories from "on-the-ground" work. We spoke to people across the country, in local authorities and charities, with different perspectives and resources at play.

You can now read our “deep dive” into housing and homelessness here.

This is not designed to be yet another report on the "state of the sector", and certainly not a comprehensive review of frontline housing + homelessness services in the UK today. Quite simply, it's a snapshot of voices from the frontline. It's stories and reflections and observations from the expert practitioners working day-to-day with people experiencing homelessness, precarious accommodation, or rough sleeping.

We hope this gives a platform to some of those frontline experts whose voices go less heard in policy- and decision-making, but whose experience can be invaluable.