At St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, we know that the path to accessing safe housing and stability can look different for each person. That’s why, alongside our long-standing emergency grants programme, we’re investing in new approaches that could make an even greater impact for people rebuilding their lives after homelessness.
In partnership with the Centre for Homelessness Impact and other charities, we’re funding the Personal Grants project. This ground-breaking trial is testing direct cash transfers to support people out of homelessness. Unlike our emergency grants, which are applied for by frontline workers on someone’s behalf, these personal grants go directly to individuals. Each individual decides how to use their funds, giving them full control over their next steps.
Direct cash transfers already have a strong evidence base for reducing poverty, but few programmes have tested their impact for people experiencing homelessness. This project aims to change that.
Devon
When Devon left prison, he was determined to turn his life around. But with nowhere to go, that determination...
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The first phase of the project ran through 2024-25 and showed early positive results. Many of those who received this grant reported improvements in mental health, confidence and stability. One person, who used the grant to pay off debts that were escalating because of non-payment told us:
“It was such a relief. I don’t owe anybody anything. It was brilliant, such a great feeling. I hadn’t felt that way for ages. The money came just at the right time, when I needed it most… I could feel it instantly just lift off my shoulders.”
The Personal Grants project builds on the success of our emergency grants programme, extending our commitment to invest in new and innovative ways to prevent homelessness. By testing new ideas and gathering robust evidence, St Martin’s Charity is helping to ensure that everyone has a safe home, along with the support they need to keep it.
This pioneering work is only possible thanks to your generosity. Every donation to St Martin’s Charity helps us find new and effective ways to support people experiencing homelessness, from fast emergency grants that remove immediate barriers, to projects like Personal Grants that test what works for the future.
“When I saw that money in the account, I was just – oh my God – and then I went and paid all the debts off. It just felt like freedom!”
