LCR Homelessness Business Charter

Acknowledging that every individual deserves a home, we commit to support the ongoing work of public and charitable agencies in ending homelessness.

How to be Involved

Any organisation that wants to join others in a collaborative stance against homelessness can join the Charter initiative. To become a signatory to the Charter an organisation can help in multiple ways:

1) To designate one of its employees to become a homeless ambassador. This employee will plege to ensure their knowledge is up-to-date, are aware of upcoming events and ensure all staff sign up to recieve the crisis training.

2) To take the Crisis training. It takes just 20 minutes and will make a real difference to you, your business and the city. Take the training here.

3) Provide support in one of the following ways:

Utilising networks

• Using business networks to educate the public and remove the potential stigma of homelessness
• Using business networks to influence and lobby the public sector for homelessness funding
• Educating our employees about the reality of homelessness and signposting

Providing funding

• Funding services that work with people at risk of homelessness
• Funding homelessness services that offer housing advice, long term housing and employment skills
• Funding early intervention services that work with high risk groups – e.g. young offenders and NEETs
• Funding homelessness services that focus on wrap-around support e.g. mental health counselling, dealing with grief
• Funding/building overnight shelters
• Funding day trips or outings to improve mental wellbeing, social skills etc.

Providing sponsorship, equipment and materials

• Providing starter packs of furniture, decorating materials and household items
• Sponsoring a hostel bed [for someone who does not have recourse to public funds]
• Providing ‘travel cards’ for service users to access activities, trains, leisure facilities etc.
• Providing toys, equipment for children e.g. sponsor ‘homework club’ for family services, clothing or play equipment
• Sponsoring or providing Wi-Fi and/or a mobile telephone for a homeless individual
• Providing IT equipment for use by homeless service users to improve digital inclusion
  •Installing technology to protect homeless people (e.g. weight sensors in waste trucks)
• Providing personal care packs (e.g. toiletries socks etc.) including specific pack for females
• Providing (purchasing vouchers for) individual well-being offer, free haircuts, manicures, chiropody etc.
• Providing clothing, particularly ‘outdoor wear’ for the winter
• Providing equipment, materials that promote health and well-being in support services e.g. camping equipment, gardening

Changing employment practices and providing training and job opportunities

• Rethinking policies to support vulnerable employees e.g. mental health first aid, sickness support
• Providing accredited training courses for homeless people or sponsoring an individual to undertake a relevant course
• Providing direct employment opportunities and apprenticeships for homeless people
• Implementing ‘slow employment’ recruitment processes to gently reintroduce homeless individuals back to the workforce
• Providing work or interview experience for homeless people
• Practicing responsible employment practices e.g. ensuring living wage, flexible working etc.
• Hosting open days’/career days for homeless individuals

Volunteering and providing pro bono services

• Volunteering services to organisations dealing with homelessness e.g. marketing or legal advice
• Volunteering workforce to run activities in homelessness organisations where they have skills/interests e.g. photography, art
• Volunteering workforce to coach and mentor homeless individuals
• Engaging business and workforce with local services e.g. visiting a local homelessness service or spending away day at local homelessness service to increase knowledge and awareness

Lobbying for better housing

• More responsible and thoughtful renting by landlords
• Building more social and affordable housing
• Creating easier access to rental properties e.g. underwriting rent