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 has to make just two commitments:

To designate one of its employees to become a homeless ambassador. This employee will receive expert homelessness and rough sleeping awareness training from Crisis. They will be expected to circulate what they learn throughout their organisation and to increase their co-workers’ awareness of homelessness issues.

To provide support in one of the following ways:

Utilising networks

• Using our business networks to educate the public and remove the potential stigma of homelessness
• Using our 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