A homelessness charity is offering up to £15,000 grants for projects that help tackle rough sleeping.
Hopestead, part of the Flagship Group, is inviting charities and social enterprises that align with its mission of ending homelessness, to apply.
The fourth round of Hopestead's 'Hope Funds' campaign is keen on supporting organisations in Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire that aim to prevent rough sleeping, increase housing or bed spaces, or reduce the impact of homelessness on children.
Marie-Claire Delbrouque, Hopestead’s chief executive, emphasised the urgency and necessity of these grants.
She said: “This campaign is needed now more than ever with those working locally in the homelessness sector telling us their services are oversubscribed, overwhelmed and underfunded.”
Ms Delbrouque added that the first three rounds of Hope Funds supported more than 30 charities and have aided more than 29,000 people in East Anglia with up to £150,000 expected to be awarded in the fourth round.
She said: “We’re delighted to open another funding round and we encourage registered charities, social enterprises and community groups who are tackling homelessness to apply.”
One of the beneficiaries of the Hope Funds, Fresh Start, a Norwich-based charity that assists ex-offenders find housing, commended Hopestead's support.
James Barnes, their funding and development manager, said: “Having funding from Hopestead allowed us to provide that intensive support.
"It was really invaluable.”
Similarly, Selig Suffolk, another beneficiary of the Hope Funds, was all praise for Hopestead's effort.
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Julia Hanock, the charity manager at Selig Suffolk, said: “We are working on a project to end homelessness through employment, and the Hopestead funding is helping us to subsidise people’s rent while they’re working.
"We really enjoy working with Hopestead because I think our values align well with their values."
Please note that applications close on August 30.
Visit hopestead.org/apply-for-funding/ or email weare@hopestead.org to find out more.
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