Introduction

Foreword

by Rebecca Sycamore, Homeless Link's Director of Regional Development and one of the authors of the original Handbook

Day centres have long been regarded as a Cinderella service within homelessness.

Still, despite being under fire from those who have questioned their role in modern approaches to homelessness and suggested that they help people maintain a street lifestyle – I like to think that day centres are fighting back.

At Homeless Link we believe that good day centres are places of acceptance, empowerment and change and they can play a major part in giving people the help, skills and confidence that they need to resolve their homelessness. They can be “Places of Change”, as illustrated by the fact that day centres have been awarded funding under the government’s Hostels Capital Improvement Programme. Day centres, like hostels, have a significant role to play in tackling homelessness

But they still face enormous challenges – not least in demonstrating their impact to commissioners and other funders. Last year Homeless Link developed an “Invest to Save” methodology to help day centres demonstrate that the outcomes they achieve are helping to tackle homelessness and do have a place in local authority homelessness strategies. The model not only raises awareness of the significant contribution that day centres make but also helps them with that perennial problem: funding. You can find out more about The Invest to Save model on the Homeless Link website.

I’m also proud that many of the most innovative and successful day centres are Homeless Link members and I am delighted to showcase their ideas and practice.