Housing & Homelessness
The government has not yet met its pledges to address homelessness, but there are people working tirelessly to step in where policy fails
1 Mike Farrington Concrete Rose
“Unwavering and invaluable” are the words used by this Changemakers nominator to describe Mike Farrington’s work. In 2020 Farrington established Concrete Rose CIC, a Community Interest Company where he provides accommodation and support to young care-experienced people across Cambridge City, South Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Last year he expanded to providing mentors to care-experienced students at the University of Cambridge. His nominator wrote: “He supports young people who don’t have anyone else to support them and steps up when other professionals like social workers, the police and local authority housing departments fail.”
concreterose.co.uk
2 Standing Tall
While running night shelters in Birmingham, CEO Christy Acton (above) came up with the idea of Standing Tall, a charity offering a creative solution to match people with a stable job and a safe home across London, Birmingham and Manchester. People looking to let a spare room can rent to Standing Tall, guaranteeing them payment for six months, while helping someone get back on their feet. Forward-thinking businesses are matched with candidates who’ve experienced homelessness and are turning their lives around. Described as “the Airbnb for good”, Standing Tall has been running for four years and Acton’s nominator wrote: “Too many people are homeless. Christy is tackling it in a way that provides dignity.”
standingtall.org.uk. @christyacton
3 Homes for Good
The supply of affordable housing in Scotland has fallen 20% in three years, so low-income households are increasingly forced to seek homes in the private rented sector. Unfortunately, over 75% of private landlords do not rent to people receiving state benefits. As a result, low-income tenants struggle with affordability, insecurity and poor conditions. Since 2014, Homes For Good has been proving it is possible to operate profitably by letting quality homes at affordable rents to people on low incomes in Glasgow and the west of Scotland. The charity raised £20 million in social investment, including £3 million from Big Issue Invest. Their nominator wrote: “Homes For Good is not only driving up standards but also improving the health and wellbeing of tenants, who can use the stability provided as a springboard for success in other areas of their lives.”
homesforgood.org.uk
