For many people losing their self-esteem can be the most damaging part of experiencing homelessness and finding a way out of that situation isn’t easy. Often the only options available are temporary fixes, offering a bed for the night but little to occupy your days.
Emmaus Salford is different because we provide a home for as long as someone needs it in a community setting, as well as providing meaningful support, training and development this provides purpose, which includes supporting the community that they live in.
- We give people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re-establish relationships with loved ones.
- Working together, our companions and volunteers share social interactions, community spirit, life experiences, and support for each other.
- Residents do not claim benefits other than Emmaus Salford claiming for housing benefit, which goes directly in support of running costs. These and many more reasons demonstrate why we are homeless charity and not a ‘supported housing solution’.
We have a proven and sustainable operating model: income from housing benefit and retail sales supports running costs with additional income from trusts and grants.
Our Vision:
A long term, sustainable, residential, community Hub, that includes:
- 25-30 rooms, 2 of which could be allocated to those with no recourse to public funds.
- 5-10 self-contained flats ideal for companion ‘move on’ affordable rents & for over 55’s, independent to Emmaus Salford but inclusive in terms of their connection, providing a ‘move on’ and retirement solution to former companions and the public with a view of reducing social isolation.
- The ideal would be built to Passive House standards making them sustainable both environmentally and financially for the future.
- We have the opportunity to continue repurposing 7-8 donated porta cabins, these could be allocated as temporary accommodation on a referral basis. Our prototype has been repurposed at the Energy House 2 in Salford University and is available to see at Emmaus Salford.
- A minimum of a 3,000 sq ft. fully accessible retail space, providing affordable furniture and clothing whilst supporting the reuse, recycle, upcycle agenda.
- Cycle hub partnership with HMP Risley.
- Working with RHS Bridgewater our longer-term aim is to create a community green space within Pendleton and develop a ‘garden centre’ venture at the Emmaus Salford Hub.
Solidarity is at the heart of what we deliver at Emmaus Salford, we currently provide support to the local community in a variety of ways (examples below) and ways in which we wish to continue and develop further:
- Lucie’s Pantry – Our social supermarket, which currently supports 500+ members to shop with dignity once per week with a fee of £3 members are provided with 10 items of shopping retailing on average around £20.
- Recycled school uniform hub.
- Welcome Wednesday provision at a local church, supporting the community through the cost-of-living crisis with the provision of a free lunch & reducing social isolation.
- The capacity to develop new services, such as a café, kitchen, both independently and in partnership with other charities and services for example health and wellbeing support.
Existing provision at Emmaus Salford and our proposed development is underpinned by these key principles:
- Targeted
- Place-based and co-produced
- Multi-disciplinary partnerships
- Design and innovation
- Funding sustainability