Exciting News – Citadel London is expanding!

February 25, 2025

So we can support more people moving from homelessness to belonging, we are making some changes to the geography of Citadel London. 

Who makes referrals: we have opened our referral process to any approved partner who supports move-on into settled accommodation in SE London (subject to criteria*).   This includes caseworkers operating in other London Boroughs or Pan London. 

Where people live: we have restructured our coordinator team so that we can support people in a wider area to the original SE London Sub Region.  Specifically, we will support people living in these boroughs and neighbouring areas (check postcodes with us if in doubt): 

London Borough  Coordinator 
Lewisham  Fred Poll – [email protected] 
Southwark & Lambeth  Jovinie Kamembele – [email protected] 
Bromley & Croydon  Carl Francis – [email protected] 
Greenwich & Bexley  Lewis Lennon – l[email protected] 

 

*Citadel is suitable for: 

Individuals with a history of rough sleeping/homelessness who are currently scheduled to move into settled accommodation. This includes: 

  • those transitioning from Temporary Accommodation or Supported Housing into more settled accommodation (for at least 6 months) OR 
  • those with a tenancy, who are at risk of eviction/homelessness (but have not yet been served with notice)

WHO 

  • Are single and aged 18+ with no dependents 
  • Would benefit from Volunteer support 
  • Have low/moderate support needs and do not pose a risk to themselves or others (NB: they will be matched 1:1 with volunteers) 
  • Have recourse to public funds 

 

Background 

Citadel London is a volunteer-led, community-based project facilitated by Housing Justice.  We match trained volunteers with individuals who have had experience of, or been at risk of homelessness, with low-medium support needs as they move-on into settled accommodation in SE London.  We assist in the areas that matter most to the people we support, complementing support provided by others.  In Wales where our project has been running since 2020, 95% of people supported by Citadel sustain their tenancy for 12 months or more.   

Making referrals: Citadel might be appreciated by people who have moved into settled accommodation in the last 3 months, or those who have been in their accommodation for some time but are becoming at risk of eviction.  Once approved, referral partners can start straight away using the MS form here  

People-led and Strength-based 

We strive to complement the existing offering, including any TST or public health support being offered.  In our first matching meeting with the supported person, we will ask them what support they are currently receiving, what matters most to them and agree some goals for the partnership. 

Test and Learn 

Citadel is part of a government-led research project being coordinated by the Centre for Homeless Impact, with research partners IPSOS Mori and IFF Research, looking at ‘what works’ in supporting individuals out of homelessness.   

The project is being run as a randomised control trial. The person who has been referred will be asked to take part in 3 anonymous surveys over a 9-month period, with a £20 gift voucher for each survey completed – they will be asked about their housing, wellbeing and their local community.  Once the first survey has been completed some people will be allocated to a control sample and they will continue to receive the support they are entitled to; the remainder will be allocated to Citadel and be matched with a volunteer alongside existing support. 

Why this kind of evidence-based research is needed 

At Housing Justice we know that homelessness prevention centered around those people affected, with community involvement and multi-agency collaboration is key to making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.    However, when emergency relief and temporary accommodation costs are rising, funding these areas can seem like a luxury.  As such, and as identified in the 2022 ‘Ending Rough Sleeping for Good’ strategy, there is a critical need for clear evidence of the short-, medium- and long-term benefits of what works in homeless prevention to justify additional funds. 

For more information: 

To become an approved referral partner, email: [email protected]  

For more information on the Test and Learn programme, visit Test and Learn 

To find out more about the Randomised Control Trial email: 

[email protected]