Supporting people with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Some people have no home and no access to state-funded benefits or housing. We want to help. Our project is a last resort for a group of people that nobody else can help. Through it, we aim to support these people to lead productive lives in Oxfordshire, and move on from the trauma of being without a home.
The issue
Our county has fresh-thinking support services for people without a home. Some of this comes from local councils, and some from our brilliant charity sector. But about 20 people locally can’t get access to any state-funded support. This puts them under huge stress.
People in this situation are often:
- not allowed to work
- not eligible for benefits
- not allowed to use public services, except for basic health care
- at high risk of abuse and exploitation
The solution
OHM has brought together experienced local partner charities to help solve this seemingly insurmountable problem. This offers hope to people who are really at breaking point. Asylum Welcome, Connection Support and Edge Housing offer dignified housing, advice and advocacy to resolve any legal issues. They also offer personalised assistance to help people get past the complex issues that led to them becoming homeless. Local partner Aspire help guests to access training and employment to help them move on with their lives.
Local housing association Soha play a key part in this project, gifting properties at a peppercorn rent.
With the above help, and also thanks to the generosity of private donors, we are on track to reach our plan to house and support the entire cohort of 20 people.
Any one of our guests now has the chance to make a fresh start. They can get ready for work, and be part of our community again.
Next steps
- If you want to make a referral please contact the NRPF team at nrpf@connectionsupport.org.uk
- Make a donation
- For those considering making a sizable donation, in-depth reporting is available on request. Please just get in touch
- Please also get in touch if you know of further properties that can be offered at peppercorn rent
- Find out more about the principles, partners and governance for this project. You can read the NRPF summary or the full NRPF project prospectus. You can also take a look at our webinar on the subject
- Read about the significant difference our work has made to the lives of our guests so far, through the Storytelling initiative in collaboration with Arts at the Old Fire Station