It was a real privilege to welcome Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, and Matthew Smitheman, Senior Customer Success and Renewals Manager for In-Form, to Just Homes.

Homeless Link is the national membership charity for organisations working directly with people experiencing homelessness in England, supporting the sector to improve the quality, effectiveness and sustainability of services, while also campaigning for the policy change needed to end homelessness. Through training, consultancy, research, data and practical guidance, Homeless Link amplifies the voice of frontline services and fosters collaboration across charities, local authorities and partners to ensure people experiencing homelessness receive the support they need to find and keep a home.

Grounded in the realities of Newham

Our time together was both thoughtful and constructive, grounded firmly in the realities faced by people in Newham — a borough where 78% of residents are of non-European origin, one in 18 people is homeless, and 27% of the working-age population is economically inactive. We discussed how these demographics shape the needs of residents, and shared how Just Homes has developed a tailored, accommodation-based support model that helps people move from homelessness into employment and more permanent accommodation.

When residents arrive from different parts of the world, additional support is often needed to develop the skills and routines required to maintain a home in the UK. Digital inclusion is one of the biggest barriers we see — for many, particularly older residents, gaining the digital skills needed to access increasingly digitised services can feel like a formidable challenge. We recognise this reality, and we actively address it as part of our core support offer.

Building financial resilience

Equally important is supporting people to live well on a low income, avoid debt, and build financial resilience, whether they are reliant on benefits or transitioning into employment. We were proud to share the impact of the support systems we've developed in-house, with over 50% of our residents now actively saving and raising their own deposits to move into the private rented sector.

Sharing what works on the ground

For a small accommodation-based provider like Just Homes, this visit was a valuable opportunity to share what works on the ground with national leaders who shape policy and champion the rights of our sector. It was also a chance to explore future possibilities, including in-depth discussions around In-Form software and how further customisation could give key workers high-quality information at their fingertips, enabling timely, informed and impactful decisions about client support.

We are incredibly grateful for the time spent with both the leadership and technical teams, and for their openness to exploring how technology can further strengthen practice and improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness.

Huge thanks to Rick and Matthew for taking the time to spend the day with us, meeting our staff team, engaging honestly with the challenges we face, and offering their support and insights. For a small charity like ours, their visit and contribution were both affirming and invaluable as we continue to strengthen and evolve our services.

Christina Isaac, CEO, Just Homes Charity