The reports looks at the Access to Enterprise (A2E) project which provided targeted assistance to voluntary and community sector organisations in London working to combat homelessness. It describes: attempts in Britain and in America to estimate the cost of homelessness; the elements of the A2E programme and who the participating organisations were; and the challenges which face social enterprise organisations working to tackle homelessness. Recommendations are presented to improve the funding system for the voluntary and community sector. The report includes case studies of the Big Issue and Street Shine, covering social aims and financial arrangements.

The study was commissioned because of the cost of homelessness both in monetary and in human terms, and with the purpose of identifying ways in which social enterprise could be used to improve the performance of organisations working with the homeless. It hoped to bring together interested parties to share information and identify common limitations and barriers to success.

Group training events were undertaken, training needs analysis sessions were conducted, one to one training was given, peer learning sessions were offered, and there were discussion and planning meetings.

As there is a need for homeless organisations to gain sustainable and predictable forms of funding, social enterprise represents a viable approach and is viewed as a strategy to achieve sustainability. Two of the case studies looked at had had to scale up, diversify and create financial independence, but this in turn had underpinned an ethos which inspired their beneficiaries. It was found that there is a case for arguing the benefits of business in relieving the negative social impact of homelessness. One beneficial aspect of the programme was the communication between homeless organisations which resulted.  This has led to the organisations learning from one another, mutually developing and being exposed to business methodologies through working together.

Social Enterprise London

01/09/2006

Social Enterprise London; Off the Streets and into Work; Change Up

research

Urban Policy > Housing > Housing policy

Homelessness