🕒 5 min read
By Rebecca Pearce
Published: 11 November 2026
The programme provides grants of up to £100,000 to smaller frontline organisations with an annual income of less than £2 million, enabling them to develop practical, locally led solutions that improve access to safe and secure accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in their communities.
Building on the success of a previous funding round in England, this latest programme focuses specifically on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, recognising the need to strengthen housing pathways across the UK and support grass-roots organisations responding to local housing challenges.
The projects funded range from creating supported accommodation for young people, to improving accommodation pathways for Gypsy and Traveller communities.
About the Programme
St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is committed to ensuring everyone has a safe place to call home and the support they need.
The Access to Accommodation Programme was developed in response to growing evidence from frontline workers that a lack of suitable available housing is one of the greatest barriers to ending homelessness.
For the past eight years, the charity has undertaken its annual Frontline Worker Survey, gathering insight from individuals working directly with people experiencing homelessness. The findings consistently show that accessing accommodation is becoming increasingly difficult.
2025 Frontline Worker Survey
- 83% of frontline workers said it is difficult to access housing that meets the needs of the people they support.
- 55% reported that helping people access accommodation had become more difficult over the previous 12 months.
- Three-quarters of respondents highlighted the urgent need for more accommodation options.
- A shortage of affordable housing was identified as one of the most significant challenges.
These findings reinforced the need to invest in organisations developing new and practical housing solutions rooted in their local communities.
Project aims
Project aims
The programme is designed to:
- unlock or create new housing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness
- support locally designed solutions that respond to community needs
- involve people with lived experience of homelessness in shaping projects
- help organisations build sustainable housing models that continue beyond the grant period
- identify approaches that could be replicated elsewhere to improve housing practice across the sector
Alongside grant funding, St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity will bring funded organisations together through a peer learning network, enabling them to share good practice, exchange learning and strengthen collaboration across the homelessness sector.
An independent learning and evaluation partner, Bright Impact, will also work alongside grant recipients throughout the programme to capture evidence of what works. This learning will inform the charity’s future funding priorities and contribute to wider sector knowledge about improving access to accommodation.
Why we’re running this programme
Why we’re running this programme
- Safe and secure accommodation is fundamental to ending homelessness.
- Smaller charities are often best placed to develop innovative solutions tailored to local communities.
- The programme responds directly to evidence from frontline workers about the growing shortage of suitable housing.
- Funding supports practical projects that create lasting housing opportunities rather than temporary fixes.
- Learning from funded projects will help shape future practice across the homelessness sector.
Funded Projects
Funded Projects
HAPANI
Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland
Grant: £100,000
About the organisation
HAPANI is a refugee-led charity supporting refugees, asylum seekers and migrant communities in Northern Ireland.
The project
Funding will enable HAPANI to purchase its first permanently owned property, providing long-term accommodation for refugee and migrant families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
The organisation has successfully managed leased accommodation for several years. Purchasing its own property represents an important step towards creating a permanent community asset that will continue supporting refugee integration and sustainable tenancies.
Summary
- Purchase of first permanent property
- Long-term accommodation for refugee and migrant families
- Supports integration and tenancy sustainment
Shelter NI
Location: Omagh, Northern Ireland
Grant: £59,894
About the organisation
Shelter NI works to prevent homelessness and support young people to find and keep a safe home.
The project
Funding will convert vacant space within Shelter NI’s Castle Street building, that they were able to buy earlier this year, into two self-contained accommodation units for young people aged 16–25 experiencing homelessness.
Alongside emergency and transitional accommodation, residents will receive tailored support to develop independent living skills and prepare for permanent housing.
Summary
- Conversion of unused building space
- Two self-contained accommodation units
- Emergency and transitional accommodation
- Intensive support towards independent living
Gypsies and Travellers Wales
Location: Wales-wide
Grant: £50,000
About the organisation
Gypsies and Travellers Wales works to improve outcomes and reduce inequalities experienced by Gypsy and Traveller communities.
The project
Funding will support the development of practical guidance, staff training and consistent protocols that help councils provide safer, more coordinated and lawful stopping options for travelling families.
Rather than providing new accommodation directly, the project will work with local authorities to improve safe stopping arrangements across Wales.
Summary
- Wales-wide pilot project that has been directly informed by recent research
- Partnership with local authorities
- Development of guidance and training
- Improved accommodation pathways for travelling communities
Positive Action in Housing
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Grant: £100,000
About the organisation
Positive Action in Housing is a Glasgow-based, Scotland-wide, independent homelessness and human rights charity. They are Black and Minority Ethnic led and anti-racist, dedicated to supporting people from refugee and immigrant communities in rebuilding their lives.
The project
Funding will pilot a supported lodging scheme for refugees who have received refugee status but continue to face barriers accessing affordable housing.
The project will enable hosts to offer paid lodging arrangements, increasing accommodation options while providing refugees with a supported route towards independent living.
The pilot will also test whether the model can be expanded in other locations.
Summary
- Pilot supported lodging scheme
- Paid lodging within existing homes
- Supports newly recognised refugees
- Designed as a scalable housing model
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