Unique London charity is seeking support to find new sustainable premises.

What do they need help with?

Street Storage provides a simple but vital service: somewhere safe for people experiencing homelessness to keep their belongings.

For people who have been evicted, are sleeping outside, living in a refuge, fleeing domestic abuse, leaving care, entering or leaving prison, or staying in temporary accommodation, keeping possessions safe can be a major barrier.

Street Storage has stored everything from chef’s whites and construction tools needed for work to passports, children’s toys, family photographs, sleeping bags and seasonal clothing. It has even stored a family member’s ashes for someone sleeping on the street.

By keeping belongings safe, Street Storage enables people to sleep more safely, maintain employment, access education and support services, reconnect with family and move towards temporary or permanent accommodation.

The charity has grown significantly and is now looking to rent more suitable premises for its service in Central London, creating a sustainable long-term headquarters for its work.

Street Storage fundraises for rental costs each year but their current landlord is set on increasing their prices 10%-15% year on year and Street Storage can’t justify this ongoing cost. 

Street Storage anticipates financing the purchase through a social investment loan over approximately 25 years and has already begun conversations with two charity-focused banks.

It is looking for pro bono property professionals who can support with:

• Identifying suitable properties
• Advising on the property search and acquisition process
• Providing initial consultation and scoping

The charity is seeking approximately 3,500–4,500 sq ft, including:

• Around 300 sq ft of above-ground office space for six to eight staff
• An above-ground meeting room of around 300 sq ft
• 600–800 sq ft of community space for up to 30 people
• A small kitchen
• three WCs
• 2,000–3,000 sq ft of open-plan storage space suitable for racking, boxes and lockers
• Ground-floor access or suitable lift access for disabled users.

The charity already operates a successful London headquarters and has developed initial plans and budgets for a property purchase. This is an opportunity for a pro bono partner to bring property expertise to the process at an early and important stage.

Timeline

As soon as possible

About the organisation

Street Storage is the only charity in the UK dedicated to providing free, safe and accessible storage for people experiencing homelessness.

Without somewhere secure to keep their belongings, people may have to carry everything they own with them or risk possessions being stolen, lost or damaged. That can make it harder to work, attend appointments, engage with support services or move towards secure accommodation.

Street Storage removes that barrier. Alongside secure storage, it provides transport to collect belongings and one-to-one advocacy, wellbeing and signposting support.

The charity supports people experiencing many forms of homelessness, including young people leaving care, people entering or leaving prison, those fleeing domestic abuse, refugees and migrants, and people sleeping rough or living in temporary accommodation.

Street Storage also campaigns nationally around homelessness policy, housing legislation and practice.

http://www.streetstorage.org