The Power of Partnerships in Ending Homelessness with Crisis

Finding solutions to UK Homelessness remains one of the country’s most significant challenges. With approximately 309,000, or 1 in 182, people homeless in England (Shelter, 2023), we were delighted to welcome Sarah Walters to outline the vital role of partnerships in tackling homelessness. This took place at our National Homelessness Event 2023, where she introduced innovative models for sustainable solutions. Sarah is Head of Best Practice at Crisis, one of the country’s leading homeless charities. A full summary is available below or you watch the full video above.

Homelessness remains a pressing issue across the UK, but through strategic partnerships and innovative approaches, progress is being made. Crisis, an organisation dedicated to ending homelessness, works extensively in England, Wales, and Scotland to deliver services and implement best practices. Sarah Walters, Head of Best Practice at Crisis, recently discussed the significant impact of local partnerships and new initiatives designed to address this challenge.

Understanding the Crisis Approach

Crisis operates by delivering services and conducting policy and research to find effective solutions for homelessness. The organisation collaborates closely with local authorities to implement models like Built For Zero, a comprehensive approach that originated in the US. Built For Zero aims to end homelessness by uniting communities around a shared goal, using real-time data to track progress and holding local improvement teams accountable.

The Shift Towards Prevention

Preventing homelessness before it starts is crucial. Historical policy shifts, such as the 2002 Housing Act and the recent 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act, have moved the country towards a prevention strategy. Despite these efforts, projections indicate rising homelessness, highlighting the need for further policy changes and more affordable housing.

Local Partnership Success: The Case of Brent

Crisis’ work in Brent, London, exemplifies successful local partnerships. Over time, Crisis has established strong relationships and trust with local stakeholders, leading to initiatives like the Single Homelessness Prevention Service. The implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act has placed a number of new statutory obligations on authorities and has cemented a prevention-focused approach which Brent has embraced, resolving 70% of all approaches under the new prevention or relief duties (London Borough of Brent).

Learning from Experience

The same review found the use of temporary accommodation has reduced by 10% year-on-year for the previous 5 years. This service facilitated a swift response during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to drive collaborative projects, such as the Community Land Trust, which aims to develop affordable homes in the borough.

Crisis’ experience shows that effective partnership requires time and balance. Building trust and developing a shared purpose is essential, as is the need for visible support of local initiatives. Incremental changes and small victories help sustain efforts and demonstrate the value of partnerships.

Introducing Critical Time Intervention (CTI)

CTI is another innovative model Crisis is piloting in Merseyside and Swansea, aimed at supporting people leaving prison. This evidence-based programme provides emotional and practical support during critical transitions, helping individuals build long-term community ties. The CTI model involves a pre-phase for relationship building followed by three structured phases of decreasing support intensity, leading to independence.

Crisis’ Annual Report 2023 revealed that they supported 395 individuals transitioning from prison, with 128 of them securing stable accommodation. Additionally, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority awarded Crisis Skylight Merseyside a three-year contract to provide ongoing support.

The Importance of Tailored Support

CTI’s success hinges on identifying the right beneficiaries, ensuring that those needing housing first support are not mismatched. The model helps individuals during their most vulnerable times, building confidence and linking them to essential services.

75 Ways to Prevent Homelessness

Sarah Walters encourages other organisations to share their successful prevention methods. Crisis’ report, featuring 75 examples of preventive work, is a resource for those looking to replicate successful models. By collaborating and learning from each other, organisations can make significant strides in ending homelessness. One example is given below:

1. Aberdeenshire Council utilises Housing First support within 56 days for individuals with complex needs, focusing on the social rented sector with a combination of individual/family support, specialist assessment, and onward referral​ (Crisis)​​.

Through local partnerships, innovative models like Built For Zero, and targeted interventions such as CTI, Crisis demonstrates that ending homelessness is an achievable goal. It requires time, collaboration, and a commitment to shared aims. By working together, communities can create sustainable solutions that ensure homelessness becomes a rare and brief occurrence.

For more information and to share your own examples of preventive work, visit Crisis’ website and contribute to the ongoing efforts to end homelessness. If you are interested in hearing more insights like this, check out our latest safeguarding conference below. We will welcome more experts to discuss solutions to the UK’s housing crisis at our Supporting Vulnerable Tenants in Social Housing Conference.

Delegate will receive:

• The latest updates and guidance on supporting vulnerable tenants from leading experts across the housing sector.
• Engage with a range of best practice case studies showcasing strategies to protect vulnerable tenants and improve service provision.
• Topics covered will include guidance on supporting tenants with mental health issues and dementia, engaging with vulnerable tenants and opening pathways to support amid the cost-of-living crisis.
• Gain the opportunity to network with a range of senior colleagues working to improve outcomes for vulnerable tenants.
• CPD points towards your yearly quota