Innovative trial could shape homelessness support

The amount awarded to each participant hasn't been revealed but it was enough to make considerable purchases

A Kent woman who took part in a trial where people supported by homeless charities are given a substantial sum of money to spend as they wish said the funds helped her reconnect with her children.

The Centre for Homelessness Impact is leading the research into the effect of granting participants a personalised budget, on top of existing homelessness support.

Sarah, from Dover, was among those to take part in the trial funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Supported by Canterbury-based homeless charity Porchlight, she said it was the reason she now sees her children and grandchildren more.

Sarah, who suffered with addiction issues, said: "I lost my kids a long time ago...Porchlight helped me get a place of my own and when I was awarded this money, I was able to kit it out.

"I could choose what I wanted, I could make it feel like home. Getting the money has allowed me to do the final bits to my new home that mean I get to see them [my kids] and my grandkids more."

This trial compared outcomes between people who have received typical homelessness support alongside financial assistance and those only given the standard assistance.

Guillermo Rodríguez-Guzmán, director of evidence at the Centre for Homelessness Impact, said it was "really important" to have the evidence from the trial as he said the approach had been "controversial".

It is the first time a series of trials on this scale has ever been carried out, with interim findings expected in the autumn and full results likely to be published in late 2026.

Porchlight's chief executive Tom Neumark said the trial could be significant for the future of homelessness support.

"Each person's journey into homelessness is different, so it makes sense to give them the means to rebuild their life in a way that works for them," he said.

"This trial allowed people to do that, and from what we can see it worked."

This trial is part of a larger three-year programme commissioned by the MHCLG, which has allocated £15m to testing eight novel interventions for homelessness and rough sleeping.