Amid a growing homelessness crisis a UK-based initiative has helped more than 1,800 people find a permanent home, including 230 domestic abuse survivors.
The scheme is known as Homefinder UK and was created by Home Connections – a company based in London.
Established in 2013, the scheme works by helping individuals that are looking to move to a new place by matching them with affordable homes across the UK.
A new report, published this week by Homefinder UK, shows the programme helped over 1,800 people and families move into a more stable home – including dozens of rough sleepers and 230 domestic abuse victims.
One applicant, who was sleeping rough in Bristol before they reached out for help, said ‘You didn’t just give me a place to live; you gave me a chance to rebuild my life.’
The news comes as the UK continues to face a growing homelessness crisis and a chronic shortage of affordable homes. To give context, government figures show 62,289 affordable homes were delivered in England during 2023-24 – a decrease of 2% compared with the previous year.
Alongside helping vulnerable people find a secure place to live, the programme likewise delivers substantial cost savings to councils. The report shows the scheme saved local authorities over £3m in temporary accommodation costs in 2024/25 alone.
‘We know that a safe, secure home is the foundation for everything else – from education to employment and recovery,’ Sharon Roberts, head of lettings at Southern Housing and chair of Homefinder UK, said. ‘This impact is only possible because of our dedicated team, our local authority and housing association partners, and the individuals who trust us with their journey.’
Photo by Naomi August via UnSplash
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