There are more than 60,000 households in London in temporary accommodation (TA). Without sufficient affordable and sociable housing, families can be in temporary accommodation - often separated from their families, friends and communities, and in sub standard conditions - for long periods of time. Londoners in TA deserve better.
Better Temporary Accommodation for Londoners is a strategic initiative funded by Trust for London and Oak Foundation that aims to strengthen the voice, connections and influence of people in Temporary Accommodation (TA) and ultimately to improve people’s experience of TA. The programme will run from 2022-25, with the first grants awarded in the summer of 2022.
Find out about the 11 projects awarded funding under the Better Temporary Accommodation for Londoners initiative.
Our vision
We want stays in Temporary Accommodation (TA) to be as short, safe and healthy as possible. We are working to:
- strengthen the voices of Londoners with experience of TA and organisations working with them
- build the capacity and connections of organisations working to create change
- strengthen and improve access to support for people living in TA.
Why change is needed
There are not enough organisations advocating for the large numbers of Londoners living in temporary and insecure housing. Those that do are often small, very local (for example working with just one block or estate) and struggling with limited resources. They know their work is part of a much wider issue, but can find it hard to connect with others or achieve change beyond individual cases.
People living in TA may also struggle to know where or how to make their voices heard, and to access support and services. At the same time, policy- and decision-makers say they want to hear from Londoners in TA and organisations working with them, and are willing to refer people to support where it is available.
How it works
To begin with, the initiative will offer:
- grants of £30,000 - £150,000 for organisations working for change with and for people with experience of TA
- networking and development support, including connections to wider work, opportunities to meet decision-makers and access to consultancy or training
- legal education support for organisations and individuals to know their rights
- external evaluation input
- micro-grants (under £1000), as an additional resource for small (maximum turnover £300,000) and unincorporated organisations.
Once these are in place, we'll expand the support offering to include further capacity building and a policy advisory board. We're closed for applications for the first phase. We hope to offer a smaller, second phase of grants in late 2023.
