SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT

Single Homeless Project (SHP) was founded by a group of homeless people in the mid-1970s. Today, 40 years on, we still try to look at the world through our clients’ eyes.

We do this by providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change.

Each day across all 32 London boroughs, our staff work with individuals to tackle the underlying causes of homelessness, such as poor mental health or drug and alcohol dependency.

From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to more than 7,000 Londoners like Derege every year.

Derege, 53, lost his job as a carer and his home when the pandemic struck.

"I lost all my clients when we went into lockdown and I couldn’t pay my rent. I didn’t know what to do and ended up sleeping rough in Brixton. Being on the streets was tough.

It’s hard to keep your dignity when you’re sleeping rough and it was even harder over lockdown because even places like public toilets were shut. It was a very dark time.'

My support worker Emily helped me find a flat. I was amazed at how quickly it all happened!

I’m excited to start supporting myself again. I actually have a degree in civil engineering. I’m doing a construction course and hope that that can lead somewhere but I’m also keeping my options open – I've even been thinking of becoming a bus driver!"

We know that every two hours someone like Derege becomes homeless in London. Your support will help us prevent homelessness and transform lives.