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We are delighted to be supporting St Martins Housing Trust, which has been supporting people in Norwich and Norfolk for over 50 years, as our Charity of the Month for January 2025. St Martins' mission is two-pronged, to maximise independent living and prevent homelessness in our community, and enhance understanding and compassion towards homeless people in our community through education and advocacy.

A person sleeping rough needs a roof over their head and a warm bed. St Martins provides this – and so much more. St Martins is the largest homelessness charity in Norfolk, and has been working in the city for over 50 years to support people during one of the lowest point in their lives. Over the years, St Martins has supported thousands of local people who have experienced homelessness to lead independent, fulfilling lives.

• The average life expectancy of homeless men is 47 and 43 for women compared to a general life expectancy of 81.
• Being on the streets means that someone is 17 times more likely to suffer violence and abuse.
• Rough sleepers are nine times more likely to take their own lives than the general population.

This is why it is so important that the outreach team (Pathways) get to people before their rough sleeping habits become entrenched. The provision of specialist support out on the streets can make the difference between life and death. St Martins specialist accommodation projects then pick up the baton and provide accommodation and support to enable people to start their recovery journey.

How do St Martins help?

At any one time, St Martins supports over 300 people with an amazing 200 team members. They have a range of services that are individualised and person-focused. Their services include residential care (including long and short-term accommodation), community engagement, outreach and advice to engage with rough sleepers and inform them of services available to them, learning and development, mental health drop-in sessions and so much more. They have won national awards for our Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) work, and their residential care home is rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

What are St Martins' goals for 2025?

During 2025 they have committed to work in partnership with Flagship Housing to build 12 new one-bedroom flats over two sites at Netherwood Green. They have some government funding and a very generous donation from Hopestead but still have a gap to fill. This is what they are fundraising for this year. Given the national housing crisis and pressure on local accommodation, move on accommodation is hard to find for the people they support. 12 new units will help to ease some of the pressure and move people through their services more quickly.

How can you help to support St Martins?

"Like all charities, St Martins has been hit hard by the 2024 Autumn budget. The increase in National Insurance will mean that the 2025/26 budget will be harder than ever to balance. Having the support of local people makes such a difference to us here at St Martins. Quite simply, we could not do our work without your support. It means a great deal to us and the people who use our services."

There are lots of ways to get involved with St Martins, from fundraising to organising a collection of essential items, to volunteering and engaging with their events & initiatives to help them reach their goal of building 12 new flats this year. You can find out more about all of these opportunities, here.