Housing The Homeless Central Fund

Quick Stats

• Charity Number: 233254
• Founded: 1964
• Annual Giving: £88,000 (approximate, based on recent expenditure)
• Geographic Focus: England and Wales
• Application Method: Through accredited social work agencies only
• Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No - only through accredited agencies

Contact Details

Address: 2A Orchard Road, Sidcup, DA14 6RD

Phone: 020 8309 1229

Email: hhcfund@gmail.com

Charity Commission Registration: 233254

Website: No dedicated website identified

Overview

Founded in 1964, Housing the Homeless Central Fund is a specialist grant-making charity focused on preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals and families in crisis. With annual expenditure of approximately £88,000, the charity operates through a unique intermediary model, processing applications exclusively from accredited social work agencies rather than directly from individuals or organizations. The charity's mission is to assist institutions and foundations in providing housing and associated amenities for persons of limited means who are homeless, with particular focus on families with children or expectant parents. The charity is governed by 9 unpaid trustees, many with strong connections to the City of London and expertise in homelessness services.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The charity operates a single grant program accessed exclusively through accredited social work agencies. Specific grant amounts are not publicly disclosed, though annual expenditure suggests grants totaling approximately £88,000 are distributed each year.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through accredited social work agencies on behalf of their clients.

Priority Areas

The charity supports three specific categories of people:

1. Homelessness Prevention: Those in danger of losing their homes or essential services
2. Families in Poverty: Those caring for children in impoverished circumstances
3. Personal Crisis Recovery: Those who have faced personal setbacks and are being encouraged to start again

Special Focus: Families with children or expectant parents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness

What They Don't Fund

• Direct applications from individuals
• Applications from organizations that are not accredited social work agencies
• The charity's focus is specifically on housing-related needs for homeless or at-risk individuals, particularly families

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Governance and Leadership

The charity is governed by 9 trustees, all of whom serve without remuneration. Many trustees have connections to the City of London and bring expertise in charitable work, particularly relating to homelessness and poverty.

Chair: Elizabeth Rogula (appointed April 2010)

• Also serves as Deputy in the City of London
• Trustee of IMAGO COMMUNITY charity

Other Notable Trustees:

• Deputy Christopher Hayward CC (appointed February 2019) - City of London Deputy, former Churchwarden at St Margaret Pattens
• Ruby Sayed (appointed July 2018) - Sits on the City's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping sub-committee, Chair of Trustees of Asian Women's Resource Centre, Trustee of Bury St Edmund's Women's Refuge and Mitchell City of London charities
• Jeremy Simons OBE (appointed September 2004) - Trustee of St Andrew Holborn and Stafford's Charity
• Keith David Forbes Bottomley (appointed February 2016) - Multiple charitable trusteeships including Friends of St Margaret Pattens Church
• Deputy Henry Jones MBE (appointed June 2012)
• Tony Zotti MBE (appointed September 2002)
• Wendy Mead OBE (appointed March 2000) - Trustee of The City Arts Trust Limited
• Colin Mason (appointed March 1998) - Longest-serving trustee

Ruby Sayed has stated her commitment to homelessness issues through her work on the City's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping committee, demonstrating the board's active engagement with the issue beyond their trustee roles.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Important: This charity does not accept direct applications from individuals or from organizations generally. Applications can only be submitted by accredited social work agencies on behalf of their clients.

The trustees fulfill the charity's objectives by processing applications only from accredited social work agencies supporting clients in the three priority categories outlined above.

To apply:

• Contact must be made by an accredited social work agency
• Applications should be made on behalf of clients facing one of the three priority situations
• Contact the charity at hhcfund@gmail.com or 020 8309 1229

What “Accredited Social Work Agency” Means: The charity does not publicly define their accreditation criteria. Social work agencies interested in applying should contact the charity directly to determine eligibility and the application process.

Decision Timeline

No public information is available about decision timelines. Agencies should inquire directly when making contact.

Success Rates

No public information is available about application volumes or success rates.

Reapplication Policy

No public information is available about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applications.

Application Success Factors

Due to limited publicly available information about the charity's grant-making decisions, specific success factors are difficult to determine. However, based on the charity's stated priorities and structure, the following factors are likely important:

Alignment with Priority Categories: Applications should clearly demonstrate how the client fits into one of the three specific categories:

• Risk of losing homes/essential services
• Caring for children in impoverished circumstances
• Facing personal setbacks and needing support to restart

Focus on Families: The charity has a particular emphasis on “those with children or expecting the birth of children,” suggesting applications involving families may be prioritized.

Housing-Related Need: The charity exists “to assist institutions and foundations for providing housing and associated amenities,” indicating that grants likely support housing-related costs and amenities rather than other forms of support.

Agency Accreditation: Only accredited social work agencies can apply, suggesting the charity values professional assessment and support structures around beneficiaries.

Intervention at Crisis Point: The language of “in danger of losing,” “being encouraged to start again,” and prevention suggests the charity supports interventions at critical moments rather than ongoing support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not for direct organizational applications: This fund only works through accredited social work agencies, making it unsuitable for most standard grant applications
• Highly specialized focus: The charity has a very specific remit around homelessness prevention and family support
• Small but established: With 60+ years of operation and consistent funding levels, this is a stable but modest funding source
• City of London connections: The trustee board has strong links to City of London governance and charities
• Limited transparency: Very little public information about grant amounts, decision-making, or application criteria
• First step is accreditation: Social work agencies must first establish if they meet the charity's accreditation criteria before applying
• Contact is key: Given the lack of public information, direct contact with the charity is essential to understand requirements and process

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Kelly Family Charitable Trust
• Hedley Foundation Limited
• IMAGINE FOUNDATION
• The Barratt Developments PLC Charitable Foundation
• British Humane Association
• THE LENNOX HANNAY CHARITABLE TRUST
• THE ROBERT MCALPINE FOUNDATION
• Global's Make Some Noise
• Quaker Housing Trust Limited
• THE CADOGAN CHARITY

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: Housing the Homeless Central Fund (233254), https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/233254
• Charity Commission Trustees Page: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/233254/trustees
• OpenCharities: Housing the Homeless Central Fund, http://opencharities.org/charities/233254
• Charity Choice Directory: Housing The Homeless Central Fund, https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/housing-the-homeless-central-fund-162349
• City of London Democracy Portal: Member details - Ruby Sayed
• Fundraiso: Housing the Homeless Central Fund, https://www.fundraiso.com/en/organisations/housing-the-homeless-central-fund