Reaching People member, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope, continues to play a vital role in tackling homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals across Leicester.
From its day centre on Melton Street in Leicester, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope offers a range of specialist services to people experiencing homelessness in the city, including mental health and wellbeing support.
Footfall at The Bridge Homelessness to Hope has increased by 8% to 14,756 for the first nine months of the year, compared to the same period in 2024. This follows a 51% increase in 2024 compared to 2023.
These local trends mirror a national picture of deepening crisis. Recent government figures revealed a record 172,420 children in England are now living in temporary accommodation, while 84% of frontline workers report rising demand and 80% risk burnout.
While the charity has been able to continue running its services despite the increases in footfall, this has had a negative effect financially as additional staff have been employed to cope with the increased demand, together with the increased cost of the weekly food bill.
Investing in supported housing
To help individuals transition from crisis to stability, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope has expanded into supported housing, now leasing three houses and providing homes for 13 residents.
David Fawcett, Chief Executive Officer at The Bridge Homelessness to Hope said: “There's a misconception that you only have to provide a bed space to stop someone being homeless. However, that is just the start of the journey and unfortunately, once someone has become homeless, they are likely to suffer homelessness on average 4.2 times.
“Through the charity’s new supported housing, we're working to retain the accommodation choice for a growing number of individuals and hopefully, for them at least, start to break the cycle of homelessness.”
Supporting all guests
Amidst these challenges, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope continues to provide vital support and services to all guests who come through the doors. The charity offers a safe and welcoming environment, free from judgement, where individuals can access emergency support and expert advice.
If you’re interested in volunteering with The Bridge or would like to donate, please contact hello@bridgeleicester.org
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