News
Please note: the SWEP status for Oxfordshire now has a permanent year-round spot on our home page. (See beneath the heading for 'Our vision'.)
Festival of Feedback Now Feeds Back—With Input From CHI
Oxford, 19th March 2024
At an exciting festival event, held 11-12 July 2023, the workings of the local homelessness system as a whole were reviewed by 28 people experiencing homelessness and 16 frontline practitioners. With careful analysis given by the UK Centre for Homelessness Impact—CHI—the event outcomes are now published by the lived experience advisory forum for Oxfordshire—LEAF.
Two High Sheriff Awards for Homeless Sector
Oxford, 12th March 2024
Last night, volunteers and staff working in Oxfordshire’s homeless sector were awarded not one but two High Sheriff of Oxfordshire Awards in recognition of great and valuable services to the community.
The Criminal Justice Bill
From 23rd February, 2024
Jane Cranston has written to all OHM partners and supporters calling for support for the Crisis campaign opposing the new Criminal Justice Bill.
Homeless Oxfordshire to Hold Art Exhibition
From 22nd February, 2024
Everyone has potential and anyone can be creative.
That's the message Homeless Oxfordshire are giving as they launch Through Our Eyes —an art exhibition by people experiencing homelessness.
LEAF Quarterly Report for October to December 2023 now published
Oxford, 23rd January 2024
The October to December Quarterly LEAF report is available. It highlights how much has been going on in the forum in the last three months.
Sleepout for Oxford CEOs a Huge Success
Oxford, 22nd November 2023
The Oxford CEO Sleepout event raised a whopping £75,000 this year. The October fundraiser took place at University College sports ground. Close to 50 business, academic and community leaders took part. Together they raised £25k more than their group target—but in the run up to Christmas, it's not too late to give. All donations go directly to front-line projects.
Reserve your place for 2024. Add your bit to these funds this Christmas! #CEOSleepOut.
Coats Campaign to See Homeless Warmer This Winter
Oxford, 21st November 2023
When cold weather hits the homeless need clean, warm coats to help protect them. Local workplace facilities, PPE and supplies provider Aston & James now want your coats for their #100Coats campaign.
The company—who deliver furniture, branded items and other workplace supplies—have become experts in delivering the goods. For some years they’ve also turned their hand every winter to passing on the unwanted but highly useful clothing item to those in greater need. This year, in partnership with OHM, they’re on a mission to make sure all of our rough sleepers have a bit of warmth to get by.
Donate Team Hit Target in One Week. How HOHC Made Floyd's Row "Blown Away".
Oxford, 21st November 2023
Floyd's Row, the front line centre managed by St Mungo’s on behalf of Oxford City Council, were ‘blown away’ when a huge ask for people to donate items was met by volunteer hub Helping Oxfordshire Homeless Collaboration (HOHC) in just one week.
Items on the list included duvets, bed sheets, pots, mugs, lamps, TV sets, aerials, speakers and more. They will all go to clients moving out of St Mungo’s into longer-term properties.
“Housing Associations Can Help Individuals Have Safe Place to Live” Say CHI in Oxford Story
Oxford, 20th November 2023
“Housing associations can help to ensure that individuals have a safe and stable place to live.” So say CHI—the Centre for Homelessness Impact—in a write-up about OHM’s project to house adults with no recourse to public funds.
In the piece, OHM “pulled together partner organisations Aspire, Connection Support and Asylum Welcome” and worked with Soha Housing to make a successful project where barriers faced by housing providers was overcome.
Cost of Living Payments for Low-Income Residents Offered by County Council This November
Oxford, 26th October 2023
A £450 cost of living payment for some low-income residents is on offer by Oxfordshire County Council this November. About 4,100 Oxfordshire residents stand to benefit.
The Homelessness Monitor: England, by Crisis and Heriot-Watt, Now Published
Oxford, 23rd October 2023
The Homelessness Monitor: England is a key report. It’s published every year, and run by Crisis. The 2023 edition is out.
The study looks at changes in England’s economy or policies, and how these affect homelessness.
Recovery Festival will Celebrate the Achievements of People in Recovery November 4th
Oxford, 17th October 2023
The achievements of those in recovery this year will be celebrated as part of a festival. The Recovery Festival—run by Turning Point—is subtitled "looking up, looking forward, moving on". It takes place Saturday November 4th and is open to everyone.
The Porch To Start Its Weekend Winter Welfare Program
Oxford, 28th September 2023
From this Saturday through to Sunday 30th March, The Porch is to begin its Weekend Winter Welfare Program. Breakfast Provisions will be offered for individuals experiencing Homelessness through the cold, wet and windy months.
LEAF Quarterly Report for July to September 2023 now published
Oxford, 21st September 2023
The July to September Quarterly LEAF report is available. It highlights how energetic the feedback is from users of the busy LEAF consultancy service, and more.
CEO Sleepout Oxford: 30+ Businesses to Show They Care
Oxford, 5th September 2023
OHM raised £25,000 in its CEO Sleepout event last year and is hoping to double the amount. Currently there are over 30 businesses who will show how much they care about homelessness in Oxfordshire. With only 6 weeks left before the event, charity OHM says it needs your help.
“You can empathise, learn, network and show this city, your county and your stakeholders that your business cares about homelessness and that you want to help. Please get signed up today!”
Oxford’s Crisis Skylight Referrals Program Reopens
Oxford, 30th August 2023
Key homeless charity Crisis has opened its doors for referrals. The change—due to reaching capacity and hence forward planning—means some new people based in Oxford city can benefit from their services.
Lived Experience Forum Quarterly Report for April to June 2023 now published
Oxford, 21st July 2023
The April to June 2023 LEAF Quarterly Report is now available. It highlights that the forum has gone from strength to strength over the past year.
New guidance issued to homeless community for very hot weather
Oxford, 17th July 2023
New guidance has now been issued to Oxfordshire’s homeless community for dealing with very hot weather.
The guidance comes after UK temperatures reached 40+0C for the first recorded time in 2022.
The advice is from a number of sources, and OHM has pulled it together in one place online.
Residents of Oxfordshire may apply to new local hardship fund
Oxford, 14th July 2023
Residents of Oxfordshire may now apply to a new package of help—a local hardship fund. The Residents Support Scheme will help with short-term basic living costs such as food and credit for gas/electric prepayment metres.
Groundbreaking barriers report published by lived experience forum
Oxford, 4th May 2023
A study by Oxfordshire’s trailblazer forum for those with lived experience of homelessness is now published. The 16-page LEAF report explains key barriers for those who could benefit from soon moving out beyond the city.
Lived Experience forum publishes latest Quarterly Report
Oxford, 25th April 2023
The Lived Experience Advisory Forum—LEAF—has published its latest Quarterly Report. Highlights include a growth in participant numbers, a greater sense of wellbeing among attendees, a focus group with staff at Bullingdon Prison, networking and wellness events, research into healthcare inequalities and more.
OHM promotes call for more support of those furthest from the labour market
Oxford, 20th April 2023
OHM is promoting The Oxfordshire Inclusive Economy Partnership—OIEP—in its call for greater fairness in Oxfordshire's labour market. Take part in the OIEP call
Dogs On The Streets (DOTS) to offer dog clinic at The Porch 28th April
Oxford, 14th April 2023
Charity Dogs On The Streets, DOTS for short, is to offer a much-needed dog clinic at The Porch Day Centre on Friday 28th April, 2023.
Resettlement Support Fund opening for applications
Oxford, 1st April 2023
A Resettlement Support Fund is now available from The National Lottery Community Fund via Emmaus.
CEOs will sleep on Oxford streets once more in bid to raise awareness of homelessness
Oxford, 14th March 2023
CEOs, business owners and senior executives from across Oxfordshire will be street sleeping again this year. By sleeping out in our internationally-renowned medieval city, these high-flying executives hope to raise awareness of homelessness locally and raise much needed funds. Find out more and take part in CEO Sleepout 2023
Breakfast Club @ Refresh Cafe to restart
Oxford, 14th March 2023
Turning Point are restarting their Homeless Breakfast Club at their Refresh Café premises. This is a wonderful opportunity to break the ice with the Turning Point team and access treatment.
OHM urges better use of 5,000 empty homes in Oxfordshire
Oxford, 27th February 2023
Almost 5,000 homes in Oxfordshire are presently empty. That’s according to data from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities—DLUHC. OHM is urging action on empty homes.
Providing more affordable homes to people who need them
Oxford, 25th November 2022
Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) is Aspire's social lettings pilot for Oxford city. It matches individuals with private landlords’ accommodation to make safe and affordable housing available for those in need.