Building Tomorrow
Access to safe, affordable housing is one of the most enduring problems in local neighbourhoods. Countless households are stuck in temporary, overcrowded, or overpriced accommodation. Help us write a new story.
Pioneer with usRight now, more than 123,000 families in England are in temporary accommodation. But we know the problem goes much further with many households stuck in a rental market they can’t afford — without security and support.
Children are growing up without safe places to play, study, or sleep — research shows the more children move house, the worse their academic results. At the same time parents are pushed to breaking point with no clear way out. We want to change this.
That’s why we’re launching a bold new pilot in Sheffield and Scunthorpe – a first-of-its-kind initiative that brings together education, housing and community. This will do more than provide safe, affordable housing. It will create belonging and hope — by purchasing houses in our hubs, we will offer our children and families wraparound care and support from our youth and community teams, academies, and much more, forming a web of supportive relationships.
Nadia’s Story
Nadia is an activist in her community, and a strong advocate of local people coming together to support each other. “Just because you need help, you should not feel shame or blame. It is too easy to feel demeaned and helpless when you find yourself in difficult circumstances.” Nadia is speaking from personal experience of reaching out for help. A mum with two children at an Oasis academy, she found herself without somewhere safe to live, struggling to cope on her own, and in real crisis. The Oasis community team and school staff worked together to find emergency then permanent accommodation, counselling, and all kinds of practical and emotional support, as Nadia began to rebuild her life.
When Nadia discovered that Oasis was launching a food project (a ‘Pantry’) in her local neighbourhood, she stepped in as a community volunteer. Fast forward a few months, and Nadia was co-managing the project. “Being a part of something is the best experience for me. I love making others feel welcome, especially as I have been in a similar position. I don’t think I will ever fully understand what I bring to the team” she says, “as I’m just being myself. But I know what every other person brings, and I’m truly blessed to belong here.”
1 in 4
children live in poverty
123,000
families are in temporary accommodation
13.6%
increase in number of households living in temporary accommodation
