Capacity building for homelessness charities to develop capital projects

The Albert Hunt Trust and Homeless Link are working together to award Capital Capacity Development Grants for the homelessness sector in England.  

The purpose of the grants is to support homelessness sector providers who have little experience of buying and developing properties to develop their plans for capital projects and access funding. This will enable better quality provision and an increase in available housing options for people experiencing homelessness.  

The need for capacity building support has been identified via Homeless Link’s membership. Capital projects can take a long time to get off the ground and require varying skills and resources. We have seen a need for specific development support to successfully design, deliver and maintain projects. Organisations require sufficient time and the right developmental environment in order to progress plans for capital programmes, including but not limited to: fundraising, knowledge of best practice, business and financial modelling, practicalities of delivering capital works and holistic thinking about service delivery models.

There has been great progress in this area: DLUHC’s Night Shelter Transformation Fund awarded 16 incubation grants, supported by Homeless Link and Housing Justice, unlocking potential to pursue capital projects. For example, one organisation was awarded funding for a project consultant, architect and quantity surveyor fees. This will help in their journey to open a shelter with self-contained accommodation for refugees and asylum seekers. Another successful organisation has applied for funding for a feasibility study into potentially transforming a church into a day centre.

Homeless Link and The Albert Hunt Trust are seeking to further this work beyond night shelters and respond to needs across the homelessness sector to help organisations take steps to bring their capital plans to life.