Commonweal Housing

Registered charity 1113331 · since 2006commonwealhousing.org.uk·Greater London·Updated 30 October 2026

At a glance

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

Commonweal Housing suits organisations that want to test whether a housing-based approach can tackle a wider social problem, but it does not fund additional money for existing services without an innovative element, or projects that need intensive clinical support.
Its Call for New Ideas awards are normally £5,000 to £8,000, drawn from a total of £25,000 for this call, so a request within that range fits and the budget covers only a few awards.
Download the Application Guide, complete the Application Form and return it by email before the closing date of Wednesday 4th November; applications are assessed for innovation, the strength of the housing model, potential impact, learning potential, organisational capability and value for money.
Applicants should show a strong understanding of the issue and the ability to develop the proposal into a viable housing project, and successful applicants should be open to independent evaluation and committed to improving wider policy and practice.
Its stated priority is London boroughs, so a group working elsewhere should weigh that before applying.

Overview

Commonweal Housing is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1113331).

Commonweal Housing exists to find housing-based solutions to wider social problems. Through its Call for New Ideas, it funds frontline organisations to research whether their housing and support models are feasible, with individual awards normally between £5,000 and £8,000 and a total budget of £25,000 available through this call. Alongside this, it commissions research into housing and social policy and shares learning from evaluation so that others can benefit and replicate effective approaches.

What they fund

Priority Areas

Commonweal Housing funds frontline organisations to investigate whether housing and support models can address wider social problems. Through its Call for New Ideas, it funds short feasibility studies that help prospective partners explore emerging ideas for housing-based solutions, including whether a model is viable and capable of delivery. The work is developed with expert delivery partners; where a study demonstrates a viable model, partners may progress to a property-based pilot. Commonweal also commissions research into housing and social policy and shares learning from evaluation so others can benefit and replicate effective approaches. Its approach is action learning: it tests models, evaluates what succeeds and what does not, and seeks to influence policy and practice. Its guidance welcomes charities, social enterprises, community organisations and public-sector organisations, including partnerships where different expertise is needed.

Themes

Housing-based solutions
Feasibility studies
Social injustice

Geographic Focus

Priority: London Boroughs.

What they don't fund

Call for New Ideas only: additional funding for existing services or projects without a clear innovative element; projects requiring intensive clinical support

How to apply

For the Call for New Ideas, organisations download the Application Guide, complete the Application Form and return it by email.

Deadlines: Each periodically issued Call for New Ideas has a closing date for applications.

Application windows:

Call for New Ideas: Applications are open until Wednesday 4th November

Who can apply:

Call for New Ideas: We welcome applications from charities, social enterprises, community organisations and public sector organisations.

Application success factors

What the charity says:

Applications are assessed for innovation.
Applications are assessed for the strength of the housing model.
Applications are assessed for potential impact.
Applications are assessed for learning potential.
Applications are assessed for organisational capability.
Applications are assessed for value for money.
Applicants should show a strong understanding of the issue and the ability to develop the proposal into a viable housing project.
Successful applicants should be open to independent evaluation and committed to helping improve wider policy and practice.

Where they fund

Where it says it funds

Greater London

Similar funders

Funders supporting work similar to Commonweal Housing.

The Earl of Northampton’s CharityRollingGave £549k The Dolphin Square Charitable FoundationNo public processGave £255k The Caerlow TrustInvitation onlyGave £2.6M Drapers' Charitable FundFixed deadlinesGave £2.6M London CatalystFixed deadlinesGave £322k St. Clement Danes Holborn Estate CharityNo public processGave £25,000 Hill Dickinson FoundationFixed deadlinesGave £60,000 Charity of Sir Richard WhittingtonNo public processGave £5.3M The London Community FoundationFixed deadlinesGave £8.5M Derwent LondonFixed deadlinesGave £150k

Five years of accounts

Financial year	Income	Expenditure	Grants paid	Accounts document
year to 31 December 2021	£895,777	£973,786	£145,374	Accounts for year to 31 December 2021
year to 31 December 2022	£876,756	£795,676	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2022
year to 31 December 2023	£1,064,827	£1,018,301	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2023
year to 31 December 2024	£1,000,605	£1,012,329	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2024
year to 31 December 2025	£950,530	£1,159,239	—	Accounts for year to 31 December 2025

Grants paid, year to 31 December 2021: grants to institutions, as reported on the charity register (Part B).

— No grants figure for those years.

Figures from the charity’s filed accounts and its register entry. The document icon links to the charity’s entry on the Charity Commission register, where its filed accounts can be found.