Temporary accommodation is rarely temporary

Hostels exist as temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, offering precarious shelter with limited facilities.

Residents in hostels are subject to the government’s 16-hour per week work cap. If they work more, they lose their housing benefit and must pay high rates of rent and service fees. By our calculation, saving for an average housing deposit and first month’s rent for a room in a shared house in London would take someone living in a hostel 5.5 years.

This catch-22 forces residents to make a stark choice: risk rent arrears or work minimal hours at the cost of moving on. The benefits trap creates a situation where people are incentivised not to work – and often end up worse off if they do.

The programme

Through our work experience programme, trainees learn valuable skills and experience, learning alongside the professional chefs and front of house teams in our restaurant and catering business. Trainees are supported by their Progression Officer who provides 1:1 coaching, based on their individual needs, around navigating challenges, harnessing their strengths and building their confidence.

After 200 hours, trainees can access a Housing Deposit Grant to put down a deposit on rented accommodation – with ongoing support around the transition into independent living. Our graduates continue to receive up to two years 1:1 support after they have moved into private rented accommodation.

By providing a pathway into employment and the support to build a life that everyone deserves, we are helping to break the cycle of homelessness in the UK.