In 2018, we awarded £35,000 towards five new flats for those ready to move on from Launchpad accommodation, but who struggle to find affordable housing and/or landlords prepared to accept them as tenants.

Organisation

Launchpad started as a soup kitchen in 1979 under the name Reading Single Homeless Project. Today it provides three key homelessness services: supported housing and move-on accommodation for people with a history of homelessness, who are homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless and need support working towards independence; a ‘floating’ support homelessness prevention service to enable vulnerable tenants to maintain their tenancy agreements; and a drop-in facility for anyone needing housing or homelessness-related advice. Depending on the service, access is generally via referral by Reading Borough Council Housing, probation or a social worker. Landpad support over 1,100 people per annum across all its services.

HOUSING PROJECT

Launchpad already provided temporary housing and support for 100 people in Reading, but their new project involved construction of its own homes for people to rent on a long-term basis. The homes offer the next step for people who have worked hard to turn their lives around, but for whom the only housing options are poor quality, unaffordable, inappropriate, often shared housing. At the time of application, the organisation had raised £270,000 towards a project budget of £600,000. We awarded a grant of £35,000.