A PLEDGE TO END HOMELESSNESS – BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN LOCALLY?

This is the work St Paul’s is already delivering in Worcester and across Worcestershire. As an independent charity and established part of the local homelessness response, we support people experiencing some of the greatest disadvantage — working alongside local authorities, health, Public Health and our voluntary-sector partners to break the cycle of homelessness.

Our support extends beyond accommodation into mental and physical health, substance use, counselling and therapies, finances, skills and purposeful activity, relationships, move-on and continued support after somebody receives their keys. The outcomes demonstrate what is possible: during 2025/26, 14 residents moved on and sustained their tenancy — an 85% increase on the previous year — alongside a 66% reduction in negative exits. As of now, we have a further 7 residents, in sustained or moving to appropriate secure accommodation.

The Government’s direction therefore presents a real opportunity. We hope the developing strategic and funding framework will more fully recognise the role that organisations such as St Paul’s already play within the national and local response, and the value of bringing statutory and VCSE resources, expertise and relationships together around the individual.

That recognition matters because our need for funding has not gone away. Significant elements of the work we undertake to prevent recurring homelessness remain dependent upon charitable and unrestricted income. If we are serious about lasting change, the support that enables people not simply to leave homelessness, but to remain out of it, must be recognised and sustainably resourced.

St Paul’s is ready to play its part. We bring experience, relationships, infrastructure and evidence of what works. We hope this renewed national ambition creates the opportunity to build on that work together, ensuring homelessness in Worcester and Worcestershire becomes rare, brief and, importantly, non-recurring.