How we help

Spires helps the most isolated and vulnerable in society, who are facing multiple disadvantages and deprivation. Specifically, those we support are homeless or experiencing poverty and are at risk of becoming homeless. Many are dealing with complex issues such as unemployment, financial pressure and substance or alcohol addiction. Many also present with physical or mental health concerns, due to a pre-existing condition or a response to current circumstances.

We’ll make sure they receive a level of support that will gradually see them build confidence, resilience & independence to exit or prevent homelessness and poverty. We’ll help maintain their well-being, making sure they have improved access to housing or less risk of eviction to provide safety and stability to their lives.

What we do

Each individual who comes to Spires for support will work alongside a key worker who’ll create a support plan addressing their needs and housing requirements. We have workers who specialise in tenancy sustainment, physical & mental health support and benefits advice. Our team work with local authorities, outreach teams and our own network of private landlords to ensure those who homeless can move into suitable housing.

Spires works alongside our network of specialist partner agencies which includes the below teams who offer services from our centre.

  • The Lambeth Health Inclusion Team who run a weekly drop in with a community nurse

  • The START Team who provide mental health support to homeless people

  • Southwark Law Centre who provide immigration & other legal advice

  • The DWP who support clients to access the correct benefits

The client’s journey

There are typically three stages of support:

Assess: We first meet many people supported by the Housing and Homeless Team during our housing & homelessness drop-in sessions at St Leonard’s & St Luke’s churches. People are offered food, drinks, clothes and other basic necessities before being assessed by one of our key workers.

Support: Key workers identify each individual’s housing requirements before addressing underlying support needs. The team consistently support people to:

  • Access mental health services and adopt wellbeing strategies

  • Work with drug & alcohol services and establish healthier coping strategies

  • Obtain training or qualifications

  • Develop the ability to manage welfare benefits independently

  • Maintain personal safety

  • Establish a support network

Maintain: Spires remains a consistent safety net for our clients, who can always come back to us for further support. By having an ‘open door’ policy with little to no barriers in accessing our services, we can intervene early and prevent homelessness. Tenancy sustainment support has also become an increasingly important part of our work, especially as more people face increasing pressures in the current economic crisis.

Request support

If you’re in need of support from Spires or are worried about someone who is homeless then please request support below.