We believe in supporting small, local winter night shelter projects and other types of emergency accommodation to be places of transformation for guests. But we want to unleash the power that scores of small faith and community based projects have when they work together and learn from one another. That is why we convene the Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network. Because from small projects, big change happens.

Housing Justice supports a national Network of small, grassroots faith or community-led organisations providing emergency accommodation and homelessness services in their local areas. We work to support these projects become places of transformation for guests and to unleash the power that scores of them have when they work together and learn from one another. Because from small projects, big change happens.

What is the Shelter Network?

The Housing Justice Shelter Network is open to grassroots organisations offering daytime support, night shelters and emergency accommodation projects across England and Wales. We bring together a network providing advice, support and funding for this movement of faith and community organisations that work with people experiencing homelessness in all its forms.

How much does the membership cost?

Membership runs from April to March. Housing Justice asks members to contribute a £395 fee which helps fund an officer to keep the network regularly updated and even more relevant. This fee has stayed the same for the last five years.

What you get from our Membership

In the year 2024/25, almost 100 network organisations attended our events, including pan-London and England-wide forums, communities of practice, our annual conference, and thematic webinars.

By joining our network, you will be learning from one another, contributing to spreading good practices, and becoming part of a growing network that last year collectively offered over 1,300 beds, supported over 4,670 people out of the streets, and we estimate that contributed to reducing national figures of rough sleeping by about 20%.

Membership of the Housing Justice Winter Night Shelter Network gives you access to:

  • Support to access grant funding opportunities to sustain and expand your work, such as the Greater London Authority’s Equipping Shelters Programme and the Night Shelter Transformation Fund.
  • A network of likeminded projects with shared principles and values, striving to build better communities
  • Opportunities to network with other night shelter projects, volunteers and staff, and to receive training and advice, through our forums and communities of practice
  • The  London Lettings Network (LLN) and, crucially, funding to help guests move into their own accommodation
  • A new Self-Assessment Portal for shelter projects which is part of Housing Justice’s Quality Assessment Framework: supporting organisational and practice development for night shelters and emergency accommodation providers
  • Support to capture your service’s data via our Impact Portal, contributing to a national dataset and an individualised data dashboard
  • Access to a library of key resources and support, such as reflective practice sessions for night shelter providers’ frontline staff
  • Tailored advice and support from experienced Housing Justice staff
  • Input into policy work representing the night shelter network at a national level

 

In addition, we also organise our Annual Conference for all members and non-members*, and provide regular communications through our monthly network newsletter to any subscribers.

(*Please get in touch with us if you’re interested in attending our conference and you have not worked with us previously).

Applications to join the WNS Network

We are holding the price of membership for a fifth consecutive year. Membership of the Network costs £395 per annum, due from 1st April every year.

To apply for membership of the network for your shelter project, or to discuss any issues related to it, please contact us on the email below.

Shelters which are part of the network receive an invoice directly each year. If you have any questions, please email: [email protected].

Testimonials

“To Housing Justice, thank you for your provision, which allowed us to move our shelter to a hotel and offer up to 14 rooms for guests where they could be warm and safe during the winter months. Thank you for helping to guide us through running a shelter during a pandemic. Your wisdom and resources have been invaluable and we could not have done this without you.”

 – NEWway Project