Taking action Ending homelessness, rebuilding lives Annual Review 2017-18 - St Mungo's
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Taking action Ending homelessness, rebuilding lives Annual Review 2017-18
2 3
Foreword by Robert Napier, Chair, and At a glance
Howard Sinclair, Chief Executive, St Mungo’s
For nearly 50 years, St Mungo’s has been at the
forefront of efforts to tackle homelessness. We draw
on this history to help us achieve our ambition for
Two years ago St Mungo’s launched an 2021: to reverse the rise in rough sleeping in the
ambitious five year plan to halt the rise in
country and to at least halve the number of people
rough sleeping in England and halve the
number of people rough sleeping in the
who sleep rough in the areas where we work.
areas we work. This year we took great Join us as we take you through 2017-18 at St Mungo’s.
strides towards achieving this goal. We now
help more people, through more services,
in more areas than ever. We are one of the
largest providers of Housing First services in We began the 2018-19 financial year in
England, supporting more than 100 clients in a stronger financial position: our financial
11 different locations. We currently have 17 performance for 2017-18 has resulted in
outreach teams across the south and south a turnover of £89.6 million. This is partly
west of England. Last year these teams worked
with 6,364 people who were sleeping rough.
through considered use of our resources and
partly through the generous donations of 2,800
our supporters, who continue to underpin On any given night we provided Our outreach teams worked The StreetLink referral service
This year we have focused on strengthening our innovative services, beyond those we are housing and support to around with 6,364 people last year. run in partnership with Homeless
our foundations. We worked to make sure contracted to deliver. Without such support, 2,800 people across England 1,774 people were helped into Link received 109,000 web and
our internal systems were in order so that we are less able to be a sector leader, in terms who were homeless or at risk accommodation. telephone reports, resulting in
we can continue to deliver safe, effective, of continuously improving and developing of homelessness. over 38,200 referrals.
transformative services. We also did more to better services with, and for, our clients. Around 7,100 people were
promote client involvement and diversity in all found and helped.
our services. We are proud to have welcomed St Mungo’s will be 50 in 2019. We continue
a new Trustee who has lived experience of to face big challenges, but we face these
homelessness, as well as new members to our challenges as a strong organisation, sure in
Client Advisory Board. Our Apprenticeship our purpose and direction. Homelessness
scheme for people with lived experience of continues to exist, but it is not inevitable.
homelessness continues to win awards. Our priorities in the years ahead are to grow
our services and housing to transform the
Nationally, we have contributed to some lives of more people, to further strengthen Our staff supported 1,662 The Tenancy Sustainment Real Lettings, our social lettings
important changes in policy. We contributed our culture and infrastructure, to demonstrate residents to make planned Team North provided practical agency, which supports people
to, and lobbied for, the Homelessness our impact and influence change. moves from St Mungo’s support and advice to 850 facing homelessness into private
Reduction Act which became law in April this accommodation to the next vulnerable people to enable renting, accommodated 718
year. Our campaigning work was instrumental We would like to thank St Mungo’s 1,300 staff step of their recovery. them to stay in their homes. households in London.
in the Government committing to developing and 900 plus volunteers for their dedication 97% of them sustained
its new Rough Sleeping Strategy. We have over the year, and our supporters for their their tenancies.
a voice to speak on behalf of our clients, backing and continued belief in us. Without
and our staff, on the Government’s Rough them, we wouldn’t be able to offer so many
Sleeping Advisory Panel, which means we can people the chance to leave homelessness
push for urgent action to prevent and alleviate behind and rebuild their lives.
homelessness and enable people to sustain 9,335 Jobs
their homes. 12,000
Our Offender Services teams Our Skills and Employment team We work to shape policy
worked with 9,335 prisoners worked with 2,646 people on and legislation, which has the
and ex-offenders, helping them skills, training and activities to greatest impact on our clients.
to make real positive changes help them prepare for work. More than 12,000 people
in their lives. signed our Save Hostels
petition to save supported
housing for homeless people.
4 5
Homelessness
in England
Our vision is that everybody has a place to call home and
can fulfil their hopes and ambitions. We are here to end
homelessness and rebuild lives.
Tonight, someone will sleep rough for the first time. It will be cold, uncomfortable,
lonely and potentially life threatening.
Sleeping rough is the most visible form of homelessness and has risen by 169% since
2010. Local authority counts and estimates show that 4,7511 people slept rough in
England on a single night in autumn 2017.
The Government has committed to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and to eliminate it
altogether by 2027. To meet this pledge, a ministerial task force was set up and has since
produced a new rough sleeping strategy. A Rough Sleeping Advisory Panel made up
of homelessness sector representatives, including St Mungo’s, provided guidance to this
ministerial taskforce.
As the number of people sleeping rough has risen, so too has the number of people dying
on the streets. The average age of death for a man who dies whilst sleeping rough or in
homelessness services is 47. For women, it is just 43.
In the UK as a whole, deaths of people sleeping rough are not consistently recorded. The
only area with consistent data on this is London, where 158 people who were sleeping
rough died between 2010 and 2017. That is an average of one death every fortnight. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
These deaths are premature and preventable.2 (MHCLG) published figures from counts and estimates
Rough sleeping is an emergency all year round but in the winter when temperatures drop, show more than 4,750 people sleeping rough in England
people’s lives are even more at risk. Last winter was one of the coldest in many years.
Working with local authorities, the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol was activated to
London Rest of England England total
rapidly help people out of the cold and into accommodation. 5,000
The Homelessness Reduction Act came into force in April. This is a landmark piece of 4,500
legislation with the potential to have a hugely positive impact on the lives of many more 4,000
people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, compared to the previous system. 3,500
The law places new duties on local authorities to help prevent and relieve homelessness,
regardless of ‘priority need’ criteria. 3,000
2,500
This is the challenging context in which St Mungo’s was working in 2017-18. On the
following pages we introduce some of our services that are taking action to end rough 2,000
sleeping, tackle the causes of homelessness and help people recover and rebuild their lives. 1,500
1 Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government 2017:Table 1
1,000
2 St Mungo’s report: Dying on the Streets: The case for moving quickly to end rough sleeping
500
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Rough sleeping counts and estimates are single night snapshots of the number of people
sleeping rough in local authority areas. Rough sleeping across England has increased by
169% since 2010.
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
6 7
Taking action
Outreach services
In April 2017, St Mungo’s started working
with Bournemouth Borough Council and
the Borough of Poole to help people
sleeping rough make positive moves away
from the streets. Andrew Teale, Service
Manager of the Bournemouth and Poole
Rough Sleeper team, explains how they are
tackling homelessness.
In Bournemouth and Poole we work in partnership with other agencies such
as Housing First projects, local authority housing officers, alcohol and drug
services, physical and mental health practitioners, and others, to help people
who are sleeping rough away from the streets.
Last year our team worked with 554 people and helped 288 of them into
accommodation.
We work assertively, personalising our support for each individual to help
them leave street homelessness. Through our reconnections service, we help
people to return to their home town, where they may have family, or friends
and other council services that can help them.
Our close links with other services ensure that we can intervene at an early
stage to prevent a return to rough sleeping if the transition from the street to
accommodation is not going to plan.
This multi-agency approach has led to some people who have been sleeping
rough for very long periods being housed, making changes in their lives and
“
getting on the road to recovery.
Our Bournemouth “I’m writing this to thank the staff at BPRST for all the support and
Once a week we have a ‘Health Bus’ at our drop in centre to provide a range
and Poole Rough encouragement that was given to me when I was homeless in the Bournemouth
of services including a GP, mental health worker, and a blood-borne virus
nurse. We hold another drop in foot clinic and provide access to the drug Sleeper team area. They came and saw me on a regular basis and kept me informed of what
and alcohol assessment team. worked with was going on at all times, even when I was hard to find. Due to the hard work
554
that they all put in I was housed very quickly and now I have the opportunity to
We never give up on people. We build trust to motivate them to change
their lives and signpost them to relevant services. It’s an exciting time for
get myself back up and running and address the issues that I have faced.
our team. We are now in the same building as the drug and alcohol services people and helped None of this would have been possible without the support and hard work from
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in the centre of Bournemouth. This will improve communication, joint the rough sleeper team in Bournemouth.”
working and engagement with people who are sleeping rough. We are also St Mungo’s client
negotiating to set up night assessment centres in both Bournemouth and
Poole to help more people off the streets.
of them into
accommodation
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Taking action
Housing First
St Mungo’s is one of the largest Housing
First providers, supporting more than 100
people across 11 different locations in
England. Alyson Davies, Camden Housing
First Project Manager, explains more.
Camden Housing First helps up to 30 people who formerly slept rough, or
who are caught up in a cycle of hostels, sofa surfing, prison or hospital, into
their own permanent accommodation in the private rented sector.
The Housing First approach helps people with complex needs and histories
of long term or repeat homelessness to first secure a tenancy, and provides
a long term and flexible package of support around them to enable them to
live in their own homes.
People are supported intensively with personal budgets, and help around
drug and alcohol use, and to tackle their mental health needs. Our aim is to
enable clients to manage and maintain their accommodation and improve
their quality of life, engage with the local community and to empower them
to make positive choices in life.
Camden Housing First has adopted a flexible, creative and personalised
approach to support clients to manage their tenancies in the community and
improve their quality of life. We find that the non-prescriptive approach in
our work often encourages engagement and positive change.
For some people, settling into accommodation can be motivation in itself.
There is no requirement to engage with anyone else other than their
“
Housing First Worker.
“When Camden Housing First came to my attention, I was in a very bad way Camden Housing We have recently introduced peer mentors who have personal experience
with addiction, depression, and I was in and out of prison. Since then I’ve come a First worked with of homelessness to help support clients. Through home visits, peer mentors
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long way: the drugs are no longer an issue, alcohol I’m curbing, and I’m starting help people to deal with a range of issues, such as rent, repairs, claiming
to volunteer with gardening. Left to myself I would probably be dead. It’s been benefits, paying bills, opening a bank account, managing debt, relationships with
neighbours and landlords, and personal emotional difficulties. This means we
a godsend. Also without their help, I would never have met my son, with whom I
people in 2017-18 are better able to engage with people and help them make progress.
now have a flourishing relationship.”
Dave, St Mungo’s client The dedication of our staff has been invaluable to building up a good
reputation for our service. Last year our contract was renewed by Camden
Council and we increased our capacity from 20 to 30 people.
Our client Dave spoke at the Parliamentary launch of our research, ‘Using
Housing First in Integrated Homelessness Strategies’, in October 2017. Despite
living with anxiety and a fear of speaking in front of other people, he felt he had
benefited so much from the scheme that he wanted others to have the same
opportunity and also share his experience with MPs in parliament.
10 11
Taking action
to sustain tenancies
The Tenancy Sustainment Team (TST) North,
commissioned by the Greater London
Authority, works across 16 London boroughs
to support people with a history of sleeping
rough to stay in their home, improve their
health, and get access to education, training,
and employment. Gemma Goacher, the
team’s Service Manager, explains more.
Our team provides practical support and advice to around 850 vulnerable
people to stay in their homes and community. Helping someone to stay
in their own home could mean helping them to maintain their benefits or
manage their living environment, all the way through to helping them find a
job (or a better job), which increases their income. We also support people
to manage their substance use and mental health problems.
Often people come to us after periods of rough sleeping or time in hostels,
where they’ve had some of their needs addressed but still need some ongoing
support. When they come into TST North, they have their own property
with a registered social landlord. This means that they have to work with their
landlord around any repairs, for example, which wasn’t the case when they were
living in hostels.
We have a clear purpose, but we are flexible in our approach to helping
people, and we are always clear about where clients are in their recovery.
We work to ensure people do not fail and move into their own homes at the
right time for them.
“
Last year we began an occupational therapy service within the team. This is to
97%
help people who may not be coping so well to manage their home and deal “I became homeless because I had issues with my mum from a young age.
with other issues such as mobility and mental health. Our relationship completely broke down. TST North help me emotionally and
A lot of the focus for us as a team has been around making sure that clients mentally. I can speak to my support worker about anything. It’s quite simple, I
have a good range of options available to them and are prepared to move of TST North just let it out. They’ve helped me to manage my rent so I don’t get into arrears,
on. We’ve also developed an education, training and employment team within clients managed manage my Council Tax, my student finance, and Universal Credit. When I
TST North, focusing on getting people into meaningful occupation that can
lead to sustainable employment.
to sustain their moved here, they helped me to purchase the essentials in my flat. I’m going to
tenancies be starting university later this year to study catering and events. It would have
Last year, 97% of the people we work with managed to sustain their tenancies. been much harder to do that without their support.”
This was a huge achievement for the team who work with great dedication to
Lisa, 22, St Mungo’s client
support a diverse range of people over a large geographical area.
The year ahead will be about maintaining the quality of service we provide.
We’ll continue to help people to lead more independent lives by setting goals
which prepare them to move on.
12 13
Taking action
on women’s homelessness
Women who are homeless are among
the most marginalised people in society.
We know from our work with women
that they tend to do less well in support
services which predominantly work with
and are designed for men. Lydia Brunt,
Service Manager at Judith Herman House
in Bristol, explains more.
Judith Herman House provides women-only accommodation for 18
people with complex needs. People who come to us have a history of
substance use, mental health problems and domestic abuse. We provide
tailored support to enable each person who comes through our doors to
recover from homelessness.
We provide different levels of support designed to help women through
their journey of recovery from homelessness and to suit their needs at a
particular point in time.
Our service is staffed 24 hours a day to ensure our residents are actively
engaged with support for their mental health problems or drug or alcohol
dependency. Every resident has a project worker to ensure they have access
to support services and to enable their move into suitable accommodation.
We set action plans to identify goals and aspirations based on what each
individual resident wants to achieve. The idea is to work closely with
people to ensure they recover from homelessness and are able to live as
independently as possible in future.
“
“I have been at Judith Herman House for two months now. Before that I had Last year we provided Our team works in a psychologically informed way to meet the emotional
and psychological needs of our clients. We give feedback to each other
been homeless for six months. I walked the streets all night and slept on friends’ accommodation in on what we think we do well and ways to improve, how we work with
sofas in the daytime. That was less terrifying than sleeping on the streets; I was Bristol to clients, and how we can adapt our environment.
44
scared to sleep in case something happened to me. St Mungo’s and the staff at
Judith Herman House have been amazing. I have found sisterhood here with Our team is dedicated to supporting our residents. We work with people
to build a sense of community. We encourage people to be actively
staff and other women staying here. The staff explain things really well and women involved in the local community to support their steps to independent living.
they listen. This house is great for women in trouble. My advice to anyone in a
similar position is things will always get better, I don’t know what my future holds Last year we celebrated our first anniversary with the residents. It was a
except that I am aiming for greatness.” great opportunity to see how far we’ve come and to appreciate the hard
work of the team.
Sarah, St Mungo’s client
In the year ahead we will continue to build on the success of Judith
Herman House, supporting more vulnerable women at risk of
homelessness on their journey of recovery.
14 15
Taking action
Older people with longer
histories of sleeping rough
City Lodge opened in June 2017 in the
City of London to provide permanent
accommodation for 17 older people with
a long term history of sleeping rough. Ivan
Lesende, Deputy Manager at City Lodge,
explains more.
What makes City Lodge unique is that we provide a high quality ‘hotel’
home environment for older people who formerly slept rough for long
periods and who face obstacles engaging with mainstream homelessness
hostel and support services.
Our hostels residents are referred to City Lodge through our sister project,
The Lodge at St Ursula, which supports people who formerly slept rough
for long periods. Many have spent around 20 years sleeping on the streets;
one gentleman had spent 45 years on the streets, having refused all offers
of help.
The standard of service, level of amenities and atmosphere is like a friendly
family-run hotel. Our residents are guests and while support is available,
it is not conditional. All guests have a key to the front door and their own
room and can come and go at their own leisure.
Our guests value the high quality of the accommodation. Each guest has a
self-contained flat. This gives them a great balance of being part of a small
“
community and independence when they want it.
90%
“I spent about 15 or 16 years on the streets. Sleeping on the streets can be
One of the key challenges we face is helping people stay healthy. Many of
our clients have not engaged with services for many years, and as they get
dangerous. I did get stabbed once. I was in the doorway and somebody kicked
older, their health begins to deteriorate. Physical health issues like arthritis and me, so I jumped up and he stabbed me. I ended up in the hospital for five days.
mobility problems are beginning to appear. To counter this, we have formed of residents are When you’re on the street, as soon as you lay down, they say to you, ‘you can’t
relationships with the City of London, local doctors, social services and other registered with the sleep there’. Living here is 100% better. You have your freedom to come in when
essential services to enable our guests to have a good quality of life. local GP and have you want. Everything is great. I’ve got someone who goes out shopping for me.
As a team we’ve been working to help our residents improve their health had a thorough I can’t walk very far because I’ve got a metal plate in my ankle. Any problems
and wellbeing. For example, we’re helping people reduce the amount of health check we have, the support workers get on the phone to sort them out for you.
sugar they consume. We also prepare meals so people can eat together.
I’m staying here. I’ve retired here. I couldn’t find anywhere better.”
The key to our success is the staff attitude towards our guests. We Eddie, St Mungo’s client
are very open and approachable which means people feel confident
to approach us. This brings a sense of security for our guests. They
understand what we are here for and they like us.
16 17
Taking action
Offender services
There is a strong link between going to
prison and homelessness; almost half of
our clients are ex-offenders. Our Offender
services team helps people who have gone
into custody with no accommodation,
or those who have lost it while in prison,
to ensure they are not homeless on the
date of their release. Samantha Cowie, Head of Offender
Services, explains more.
We work with prisoners and ex-offenders to help them avoid becoming
homeless. We provide advice and guidance on all housing matters and
we support people who would otherwise be homeless on release from
prison to access accommodation.
We help people in a number of ways: we talk to their landlords so that they
retain their tenancies, we help them apply for benefits, we can help them secure
their properties and even make sure that their pets are looked after when they
go into custody. We also help people relinquish tenancies to reduce the risk of
them being deemed ‘intentionally homeless’ by local authorities.
We deliver services in 15 prisons: 14 in London (under the London
Community Rehabilitation Company) and one in Hertfordshire (with
Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
Community Rehabilitation Company).
As part of the Housing Assessment Referral Pathway we meet people with
nowhere to live or with high support needs at ‘the gate’ when they leave
prison and support them to access accommodation, get integrated into the
“
community and explore education, training and employment opportunities.
“May I thank you so much for all the help you assisted with whilst I was in In 2017-18, the
custody. During that period I wasn’t sure what would become of my flat that Offender Services Not everyone who leaves prison is deemed to have no fixed address. Where
I had since June 1995. But after meeting you in September 2017 and all the team provided appropriate (for example with young ex-offenders) we help to reconnect
9,335
them with their families.
hard work you put in, I kept it. Thank you again, it made my release into society
swift and effortless. Keep up the good work and bless you from my children and The key to our success is that we understand our clients very well. We
grandchildren also.” work using the recovery based approach to address all the problems they
St Mungo’s client people with housing might be facing. Our staff really understand the criminal justice system and
and advice. 3,084 the homelessness sector. Some members of our team received awards for
exceptional work over the course of the year. Our team in Hertfordshire
people were helped has raised in the region of around £4,000 for clients for rent deposits.
to find long term
accommodation In the coming year, we’ll look at providing services for rough sleepers
leaving custody in London. We want to look closely at the success of
the No Second Night Out model and how that can be used to help
ex-offenders leaving custody. We’re also looking at delivering women’s
services to address the lack of accommodation for women leaving custody.
18 19
Taking action
Giving people a fresh
start in life
For some of the people we work with,
employment may not be a viable option
because of their support needs or physical and
mental health problems. Starting a business
enables them to create and determine their
own recovery. Aba Mensah, Business Start Up
Project Coordinator, explains more.
The Business Start Up project supports people who are considering self-
employment by improving their self-esteem, confidence, daily life structure
and knowledge to help them start a successful business.
We primarily focus on providing one to one business coaching, with
volunteer mentors who are experienced business owners or current
entrepreneurs, to help people affected by homelessness move towards
self-employment, self-sufficiency and self-fulfilment.
One of our main objectives is to increase our clients’ self-esteem and
confidence. All other achievements will flow from this. We want people
to start a business and we work with them over a number of months to
help them develop a realistic plan. However, a person is more likely to
achieve if they are happy and confident.
Some of our clients may have experienced trauma; going back to fit into ‘the
norm’ may be a difficult mental adjustment for them. Our business coaches
care about our clients. They understand and give their time knowing that
“
some people we work with have a lot of problems, which may put them at a
disadvantage to the average person who is starting a business. Business Start Up “I had my own business teaching yoga for almost ten years. I went through
project worked a bad experience then I lost all my confidence. I lost my way. Later, I started
We have workshops focused around different elements of starting a business,
including financial forecasting and planning, marketing, advertising, market with to teach yoga voluntarily at St Mungo’s. I shared my story with a member of
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research and even basic things like time keeping and planning your day. staff. She recommended that I join the Business Start Up project. The support
has been phenomenal with St Mungo’s. Every single member of staff has been
We organise pop up events to enable our clients to trade, but also to give
amazing. I pitched my idea to teach chair yoga in offices to two Business Start
them a platform to showcase their work and access new markets. people last year.
Up project ‘business dragons’ and one signed me up. I put a business plan
Because many people who come to us are still living in hostels, we are Seven clients set
together and now I’m working with a business mentor from the project. Chair
working on creating a co-working space to enable them to have an up sustainable
yoga is going from strength to strength. Aba Mensah, the Business Start Up
address and premises for them to launch their business. businesses
project coordinator has helped to reignite the enthusiasm I had before. This has
Last year was one of the most successful in terms of launching sustainable been great for me.”
businesses. Seven strong businesses were launched and continue to grow.
The business owners are finding new contracts, new partnerships and Jen, St Mungo’s client
areas to sell their products. They continue to engage with us, which helps
them to find different ways to continue growing their business.20 21
Taking action
Developing skills
We give young people an opportunity
to develop gardening skills, grow organic
vegetables and carry out landscaping.
Jay Henry, Putting Down Roots Project
Coordinator, outlines how his project
helps vulnerable young people to
improve their physical and mental
wellbeing through gardening.
St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots for Young People helps vulnerable young
people aged 16-24, through social gardening and therapeutic horticulture.
We give people an opportunity to develop gardening skills, grow organic
vegetables and carry out landscaping. Through gardening we help people
to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
We also run sustainability projects and small events to promote awareness
of access to green spaces. We try to get out into the community and try
to break down barriers for vulnerable people to get them re-engaged.
Our aim is to give young people a sense of belonging and to work
together to build sustainable communities.
We work in the Lewisham and Waltham Forest areas of London, but
we also have two more members on our team who cover Bristol and
Oxfordshire. Our project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through the
Our Bright Future Programme.
People come to us from difficult situations. Some may have left foster care
at the age of 16 and moved into different hostels. They may have specific
“
learning needs that mainstream education hasn’t been able to address.
“It gives me something to look forward to in the week… It gives me a chance Putting Down Roots We work with the young people’s strengths and we champion ourselves
as being a project that can accommodate all of those issues.
to socialise and interact with people in a comfortable environment. The project for Young People has
has helped me build my confidence. I have learnt new skills and stuff about worked with Gardening opens up people’s minds to something different. Growing
52
gardening. I have really enjoyed the course, as I have made new friends. up, people may see gardening as something you do when you’re old or
My favourite moment was when we built a bird house.” something you do as a hobby, they don’t usually attach a career to it.
We teach them the skills and show them that you can get a career out of
St Mungo’s client vulnerable it, whether it’s being a gardener or landscaper or tree surgeon.
young people
At the end of their time with us, people can receive an OCN Horticulture
Level One qualification. Our ultimate goal is to get young people into
employment that they choose, and to give them a choice and direction in life.
Last year we took on 19 vulnerable young people. We have expanded our
team by taking on two part-time gardener trainers, focusing on Bristol and
Oxfordshire. We are now in a position to take on more young people
next year.22 23
Taking action
Influencing policy change
At St Mungo’s we recognise the importance
of influencing government in order to
realise our vision that everyone has a place
to call home and can fulfil their hopes and
ambitions. We influence and campaign for
policy change by combining our clients’
voices with the experience and evidence
we have about what works. Beatrice Orchard, Head of
Policy, Campaigns and Research, explains more.
The snap General Election in June 2017 caught everyone by surprise.
There wasn’t much time to make sure homelessness was a priority for the
main political parties and so we worked together with other homelessness
charities to call on all parties to pledge an end to rough sleeping. We
also encouraged election candidates to support our call with the hashtag
#endroughsleeping. This partnership approach helped persuade both
the Conservative and Labour parties to commit to end rough sleeping in
their election manifestos.
In November 2017, the Government announced the establishment of a
Homelessness Reduction Taskforce to develop a cross-government strategy
to end rough sleeping. Our Chief Executive, Howard Sinclair, was invited to
sit on a panel advising ministers on the new strategy.
In response to proposed changes that threatened the future of homeless
hostels, we launched our Save Hostels campaign. In September 2017,
we published a report about the role of hostels in ending rough sleeping,
drawing on the perspective of our clients and staff.
57
“
In the end, more than 12,000 campaigners signed our Save Hostels “I’ve been involved with the Policy, Campaigns and Research team a fair bit over the last
petition for secure funding for supported housing, which we handed in with year. I have visited and toured the Houses of Parliament twice. I attended St Mungo’s
the help of our clients on World Homeless Day 2017. Shortly afterwards, Annual Parliamentary event in December and an All Party Parliamentary Group meeting
the Government dropped plans to cap housing benefit for tenants in MPs, Ministers about dying while sleeping rough. I’m very excitedly awaiting September when I will be
supported housing, including homeless hostels. and Peers attended shadowing an MP I recently met. I have also recently attended the launch of St Mungo’s
The Government has since dropped proposals that could reduce the funding our annual research report at Portcullis House attended by numerous Peers and MPs. Being
available to hostels in the future. Parliamentary involved in numerous ways has helped me grow hugely. I am far more empowered in my
Reception in 2017 own life and more confident speaking in front of people I don’t know (one of my biggest
The then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government,
Sajid Javid MP, was among 57 MPs and Peers who attended our annual fears). I feel like I have a voice for the first time in over a decade, which makes me more
Parliamentary Reception in 2017 to show their support for our work. determined to be part of the Policy, Campaigns and Research team. My goal is to speak
Labour Party Leader, Jeremy Corbyn MP, also dropped in. As always, to more people and help change things to better people’s lives.”
several of our clients also attended the event to share their experiences of
homelessness and ideas for solving it with the politicians in the room. Liam, St Mungo’s client24 25
Taking action
Involving our clients
At St Mungo’s we engage and work with
clients to help us understand how to best
respond to changing needs. Earlier this year
a team of people with lived experience of
homelessness took part in peer-led research
on rough sleeping. Lucy Holmes, St Mungo’s
Research Manager, explains more.
We recently completed our peer research project, ‘On My Own Two Feet1’,
which involved people with lived experience of homelessness designing and
conducting research to help us understand why some people return to rough
sleeping after time off the streets.
A group of 10 people saw the project through from start to finish. The peer
researchers were a diverse team of varied experiences and ages, and they all
brought something unique to the team. Some had received formal academic
education, others had next to none.
Over the course of a fortnight the group received intensive training in research
methods at St Mungo’s Recovery College, which helped them understand
research ethics, safeguarding and boundaries. The team also learned about
different types of research questions and data collection methods.
As a team we created two interview topic guides: one for people with
experience of repeat rough sleeping and one for St Mungo’s staff members
Illustrations by Sandra Howgate who support people who have slept rough. We held interviews and focus
groups with 77 people (42 clients and 35 staff) across St Mungo’s services.
“
The team spent more than 750 person hours on the project.
“Using the Recovery College has benefited me greatly. I first heard about the 10 peers spent more
750
From the research we identified push and pull factors which can combine to
service when I was a social work student at St Mungo’s. Once my placement exert an irresistible pressure on someone, leading to them ‘choosing’ to return
was finished I moved forward with my studies and looked forward to my final to rough sleeping, or finding no alternative when a crisis comes along. We also
year of university. Things didn’t work out as planned and I found myself in hours researching found that people who have slept rough may have holes in their ‘safety net’
a difficult situation with poor mental health. I have enjoyed all of my time that make them more vulnerable to ending up on the streets in future.
why people return to
studying the peer research course at the Recovery College. I have gained new rough sleeping after This project completely embodied St Mungo’s value of involving our clients
skills, made new friends and got back on my feet. The best part of the course time away from the in everything we do. The peer researchers gained great experience by
was definitely carrying out the fieldwork sessions. As a team, we travelled to a streets
conducting this research. Some of them are very keen to get back into
range of St Mungo’s services, meeting clients and staff who helped us with the formal education, and now they’ll be able to talk about this project on their
applications. For others who are not planning on returning to education, or
research project. I met many people I could relate to and I was able to learn so who aren’t as ready to go back to work yet, the benefits of working in a team,
much from each of them. My knowledge and understanding of homelessness overcoming fears, increasing confidence and gaining a sense of achievement
has moved beyond my own personal experiences.” are really fantastic.
Maria, St Mungo’s volunteer
1 www.mungos.org/return26 27
Our clients Ethnicity 3% 6% 1%
18-25
7%
White British 5% 11% 26-35
People experiencing homelessness often face a number White other 5% 36-50
19%
of issues, commonly involving feelings of isolation, mental White Irish
42% 51-60
Black/Black British 24%
health problems, and drug or alcohol use. We know that Asian/Asian British
Age 61-70
working with people to understand their goals and then Unknown 26% 70+
helping them to achieve these is the best way to overcome Mixed White and
Black Caribbean Not shown:
9% 39%
these issues. Other Under 18
3% (28 individuals)
At St Mungo’s we know that it takes more than a roof over someone’s
head to end homelessness. While sleeping rough is the most visible form of
homelessness, the causes and consequences of having nowhere stable to live
are often much more complicated. Gender Transgender Client does not
wish to disclose
Everything we do starts with our clients. At the heart of all of our services
66% Yes 0%
is our commitment to empowering individuals, to support people in their Male 4%
recovery journey and to prevent homelessness in the future.
We are here to help people who have experienced homelessness regardless
Female
33% 15%
of their age, gender, sexuality or ethnicity. We not only want to help our
clients move on from the problems that caused homelessness, we also want
them to work with us to improve and develop our services. So we include
81%
our clients wherever possible in our work. Sexual Unknown Data not No
Time and time again we have shown that people can, and do, move on from
orientation collected
the problems that caused them to become homeless. And we believe that 24%
Gay/Lesbian
with well timed and carefully crafted support, we can help everyone into a 2%
place to call home, so they can fulfil their hopes and ambitions.
Client does not Disability
wish to disclose
Each of our clients comes to us with a unique set of skills and strengths and 3% 69% 14%
Bisexual 1% 18%
we use these as the starting point for a healthier, happier and more stable life. Yes
1%
Heterosexual No
Client does
Figures based on all clients we worked with in the period, recorded on St Mungo’s
not wish to
central client monitoring database. This includes clients within residential, advice, disclose
advocacy, outreach, skills and employment, health and floating support services.
Some clients who worked with our London, Bristol and Oxford outreach teams and Unknown 67%
offender services teams may not have been included.28 29
Our finances
As reported in the Chairman’s statement, we ended the During the year the Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) for London, Total income 2017-18 (£89.6m) Total expenditure 2017-18 Staff salary breakdown 2017-18*
2017-18 financial year in a stronger financial position Brighton and an Associate for Bristol were established. (Group) (£85.5m) (Group) 2% 2%
than previous years with a surplus of £4.1 million (2017: These SIBs enabled new sources of funds to be secured to £1.1m
£1.9 million surplus) and a turnover of £89.6 million support people with long histories of rough sleeping who 5%
11%
(2017: £86.4 million). Our stronger financial position was would otherwise continue to be homeless. £10.5m £10.3m 0-15k
achieved partly through considered use of our resources 15-25k
£41.9m 31%
and through the generous donations of our supporters. As of 31 March 2018, St Mungo’s had reserves of £17.7 £49.3m 25-35k
£11.8m
We continue to face challenges, as our priorities are to million (2017: £13.6 million) and cash and bank balances 35-45k
grow our services and housing to transform the lives of totalling £23 million (2017: £17.8 million). However, it 45-55k
more people, and further strengthen our infrastructure should be noted that the pension liability of £7.7m will £25.9m 55k+
48%
and invest in improving our stock. increase in 2018-19 due to a change in the way SHPS £24.3m
pension liabilities are reflected in the accounts.
Our total turnover for 2017-18 of £89.6 million was
made up of rent and service charges income, income The Board has agreed growth objectives for 2018-19 All staff employed received the Living Wage or
Rent and Service Charges
from our support and care contracts and fundraising that will use these resources, including reserves, to Staff costs above. Those based in London received the
Support (linked to property) Occupancy costs London Living Wage or above.
income. Thanks to our very generous supporters, support further client services and increase housing
Support (not linked) Other
there has been an increase in fundraised income. We supply. The growth strategy includes establishing new We employed 1,254 staff, of whom 11%
Fundraised income
raised £10.5 million (2017: £9.0 million) which is higher services supported by fundraising income to address were people who have lived experience of
Other homelessness*
than the target for the year and includes the receipt of unmet need in new areas and increasing the supply of
legacy income. With fundraising income we are able accommodation through entering arrangements with *As of April 2018
to provide and explore innovative ways to tackle and property funds or joint ventures.
prevent homelessness, and help clients to rebuild their Statement of comprehensive income
Sonia Smith For the year ended 31 March 2018
lives through initiatives that are not funded by contracted
Executive Director of Finance 2018 2017
services, such as our Recovery College programme. ) )
Unrestricted) Restricted) Total) Total) ))
Our annual service contract income was £33.9 million Statement of financial position Group £000) £000) £000) £000) )
(2017: £34.4 million). Successful bids for new, existing For the year ended 31 March 2018 Group Turnover 87,209) )) 2,423) ) 89,632) )86,446)
services during 2017-18 had a total additional revenue Operating expenditure (83,612) (1,942) (85,554) (84,299)
2018) 2017)
value of £16.9 million. These figures do not include any £000) £000) ) )
rental income linked to any of the services. During 2017- Fixed assets Operating surplus / (deficit) 3,597) 481) 4,078) 2,147) )
18 we stopped running six services representing £1.062 Housing properties 81,416) 81,431)
million of income that has been lost to St Mungo’s. Three Other fixed assets 802) 888) (Gain) / Loss on disposal of freehold property 90) -) 90) (124) )
Investment in subsidiaries -) -) Interest receivable 83) -) 83) 90) )
of these services came to the natural end of their life Interest payable and similar charges (113) -) (113) (187)
cycle, we were unsuccessful in a bid and withdrew from 82,218) 82,319) (Loss) from associate (27) -) (27) -) ))
two tenders as they were not sustainable. Current assets
Trade and other debtors 10,135) 11,407) Surplus / (deficit) before tax 3,630) 481) 4,111) 1,926) )
Cash and cash equivalents 22,997) 17,838) Taxation -) -) -) -) )
Overall, in 2017-18 we have achieved £1.8 million (87%)
of the Value for Money cash savings targets set by the 33,131) 29,245)
Surplus / (deficit) for the year 3,630) 481) 4,111) 1,926) )
Board. During the year we demonstrated our effectiveness Current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due within (17,486) (16,818) Total comprehensive income / (expenditure) for the year 3,630) 481) 4,111) 1,926) ))
in providing client services and increasing housing supply one year )
and have achieved economies through renegotiation of Association )
Net current assets 15,644) 12,427)
underperforming contracts and winning new business. Turnover 86,797) 2,423) 89,220) 86,181) )
Total assets less current liabilities 97,863) 94,746)
Creditors: amounts falling due after (71,080) (71,076) Operating expenditure (83,061) (1,942) (85,003) (83,861) )
Over the course of 2017-18 we have further developed
our approach to maintaining our properties. Last year, more than one year
Operating surplus 3,736) 481) 4,217) 2,320)
we spent £1.7 million as part of our works to existing Provisions for liabilities
Pension provision (7,661) (9,012) Gain / (loss) on disposal of property 90) -) 90) (124)
properties. We are reviewing a number of properties Other provisions (1,388) (1,046) Interest receivable 83) -) 83) 90) ))
to ensure we are maximising use and driving efficiencies. Minority interest (11) Interest payable and similar charges (109) -) (109) (187)
By 2020, St Mungo’s will invest over £7.4 million into Surplus before tax 3,800) 481) 4,281) 2,099)
Total net assets 17,722) 13,612)
improving buildings that will accommodate residents
Reserves Taxation -) -) -) -)
over the next five years. We also have plans for further
Restricted reserves 1,309) 828)
acquisition/development of new properties. Surplus for the year 3,800) 481) 4,281) 2,099) )
Income and expenditure reserve 16,413) 12,784)
Total reserves 17,722) 13,612) Total comprehensive income for the year 3,800) 481) 4,281) 2,099)30 31
Thank you
Our Trustees
Robert Napier CBE Tracy Allison (appointed Tim Gadd Yvonne Arrowsmith Jeff Shear (resigned
(Chair) 19 September 2017) John Maxted (resigned 16 May 2018) 19 September 2017)
Sir Leigh Lewis (Vice Rolande Anderson Dr Helen Walters Ashwin Kumar (resigned Otto Thoresen (resigned
Chair) Alexandra Beidas John Watts (appointed 19 September 2017) 31 October 2017)
Dan Corry 25 July 2017)
Every donation we receive is greatly appreciated. We wish to say a thank you to all our supporters who made donations of their time
and energy or gave financial support to St Mungo’s during 2017-18, including those who left us a special gift in their Will.
We would like to say a particular thanks to
29th May 1961 Cabot Circus James Cochrane National Friendly Story of Christmas
Charitable Trust Chestertons Jo Malone Limited Network Homes Appeal
Andrew and Jane Chris and Liz S John Lewis Partnership Nisbet Trust Taylor Wimpey Plc
Haslewood City Bridge Trust Julian and Susie Knott Oak Foundation (as part The Elise Pilkington
Barratt Developments Cyril and Eve Jumbo Kestrelman Trust of a partnership Charitable Trust
PLC Charitable Trust KMF Maxwell Stuart project led by The Ingram Trust
Big Lottery Fund Grant Dan and Krystyna Charitable Trust Pathway) The Late The Reverend
(as part of a Houser Liberty Specialty Ofenheim Charitable and Mrs W Sharland
partnership project led David Lyon Markets Trust The Swire Charitable
by Crisis) Don Hanson Charitable Linklaters LLP Osborne Clarke Trust
Big Lottery Fund Grant Trust London Bullion Market Quartet Community The Wigoder Family
(Our Environment Our DWF Association Foundation Foundation
Future) Elizabeth Desmond London Councils Rob Collinge The Zochonis
Big Lottery Fund Grants Essex Trust London Housing Robert Barr Charitable Charitable Trust
Breadsticks Foundation Freshfield Foundation Foundation Trust Tokio Marine HCC
Bristol Energy Give it Away Ltd Lowe Guardians Rolls-Royce Plc Westminster Foundation
Bristol Old Vic Theatre Inner London Michael and Ruth West Sam and Caroline Davis
in partnership with the Magistrates’ Courts’ Milton Damerel Trust Sheepdrove Trust
Shakespeare Globe Poor Box Charity Mrs Gwen Dennard S-RM
We would like to acknowledge the partners and commissioners we worked with
Avon and Wiltshire Brighton & Hove Guys Hospital LB Lewisham LB Southwark
Mental Health County Council (GUY009) London Councils (ALG) Spelthorne Borough
Partnership NHS Trust Bristol City Council LB Hackney London CRC Council
(AWP) Bristol CCG LB Hammersmith and Oxfordshire County St Giles Trust
Barnsbury Housing Camden CCG Fulham Council Team London Bridge
Association LB Camden LB Haringey Praxis Community Thurrock Council
Basildon Council City of London Hertfordshire County Projects Together UK
Safer Bristol partnership: LB Ealing Council Reading Borough LB Tower Hamlets
Bristol, B&NES, South East London Housing Homeless Link Council Virgin Care
Gloucestershire) Partnership LB Hounslow Second Step Westminster City
Looking to the future
Bench CRC LB Enfield LB Islington Shelter Council
Bournemouth Borough Greater London Royal Borough of South London &
Council Authority (GLA) Kensington and Chelsea Maudsley NHS
LB Brent LB Lambeth Foundation
Our vision is that everyone has a place to call home and can fulfil their hopes and ambitions.
We are pleased to have worked with The St Mungo’s works to prevent people from becoming homelessness, especially those at high risk. We help people facing imminent
National Lottery through the Big Lottery Fund’s homelessness, working with individuals who are sleeping rough on to their recovery journey and into secure, long term housing.
Help Through Crisis programme, Reaching
Communities programme and Wildlife Trusts – This is our task and to do this we will pursue five strategic goals until 2021:
Our Brighter Future programme.
1. Improve our services and housing so they are even safer and more effective in changing the lives of our clients.
2. Interconnect more with local partners to ensure our clients can access the specialist services they need for their recovery.
3. Innovate new evidence based services that prevent and tackle rough sleeping.
4. Influence national and local government to implement new rough sleeping strategies.
5. Involve our clients in all our work.Artwork by St Mungo’s client Thank you to all the St Mungo’s clients, volunteers, and staff whose photographs and comments appear in this publication. © St Mungo’s 2018 St Mungo’s, Fifth Floor, 3 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YW Tel: 020 3856 6000 Donations: 020 8600 3000 Email: info@mungos.org www.mungos.org St Mungo Community Housing Association, a company limited by guarantee Registered and Head Office: Fifth Floor, 3 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YW Patron HRH The Duke of Kent, KG • Chief Executive and Secretary Howard Sinclair Charity No. 1149085 • Company No. 8225808 (England and Wales) • Housing Association No. LH0279
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