Our backstory.

The reasons, the challenges and the Hope.

Why do people become homeless?

Hope4 works with each client to understand the particular circumstances that have led them to become homeless or to be at risk of becoming homeless. We recognise that everyone’s situation is individual to themselves, but there are some common causes including but not exhaustive. 

  • Loss of employment

  • Debt

  • Breakdown of relationships

  • Bereavement – adjusting to the loss of loved ones

  • Falling into crime

  • Recent release from prison

  • Involvement in substance misuse

  • Mental health issues including PTSD

  • Drugs and/or alcohol

  • Landlords moving out of the rental sector

What challenges are often faced by people experiencing homelessness?

The challenges faced by many of our clients are often very complex. Finding suitable accommodation is sadly not the only issue they face. Many people who find themselves homeless have mental or physical health problems, drug or alcohol dependency, or debt from previous tenancies. These added complications often become even more acute when homeless. Often our clients’ literacy levels are low, and their computer skills are basic. With no access to IT, Universal Credit applications or housing and job applications are severely hampered. 

There is still the stigma that a homeless person does not want a home, or that they brought the situation upon themselves. We treat everyone with dignity, working to find the best solution for them. 

Providing hope
at the Hope
Centre

Through the services offered by Hope4, and by working together with partner organisations and agencies (Rugby Borough Council, P3, CGL and Job Centre), we are committed to support those who find themselves homeless or are rough sleeping. Together we address their challenges and help rebuild their lives. 

For example, poor mental and physical health is common. Many of our clients now have access to health provision via our physical and mental health nurses based at the Hope Centre. At the Hope Centre clients can access computers and our staff will guide them through the often difficult and stressful process filling out Universal Credit forms, uploading CVs etc.

By working together, we can end homelessness by changing one person at a time. 

Why do people need to access the food bank?

There are many reasons why food banks have sadly become so needed across the country over the last decade. These include debt, benefit claims and ensuing delays, illness, disability, family breakdown, redundancy and homelessness. All these can lead people to have very little money available for food and essentials.

These issues, coupled with the increasing costs of necessities such as food and housing, mean that people need practical, immediate help. This is where the food bank can step in providing the best possible emergency food and support to people in crisis. 

How do you access the foodbank?

Care professionals such as health visitors, GPs schools and social workers identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher. 

Providing hope
at the food
bank?

A client will go to food bank with their voucher and will be given a parcel of three days’ nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. Volunteers will also try to help people break free from poverty by providing additional support signposting them to other organisations in the town who can help resolve the underlying crisis that they face.

We work closely the our local Citizens Advice Bureau and can directly refer food bank clients to our dedicated food bank Citizens Advice case worker who can help with issues such as benefit claims including PIP, housing issues, debt and much more. In addition, our food bank Support Worker is able to assist our clients with non-financially regulated issues including form filling, CV writing, attending interviews etc. The local Christians Against Poverty Centre Manager is based in the food bank most Mondays in term time sharing information on the their debt service.

For more information on research and advocacy that has been carried out by leading research organisation please click here.