What do we do?

SPEAR currently operates seven services and a volunteer programme:

The Direct Access Hostel has 12 beds; 4 spaces for women and 8 spaces for men. We provide homeless people with accommodation for six weeks. During this time, clients work with designated keyworkers to identify their needs and to find suitable move-on accommodation.

The Hostel’s priority client group are verified rough sleepers. Referrals are taken from within SPEAR, as well as from external agencies and individuals referring themselves.

Our Young Person's Support Project offers three young men the opportunity to learn independent living skills and maintain a tenancy for the first time.

We provide a holistic service for all our residents, in the main hostel and in the Young Person's Scheme, responding to any needs that are identified during their stay. This could be providing support to build confidence and develop social skills, or help to apply for jobs and higher education.

Our Drug and Alcohol Service offers a service to clients with a substance misuse issue. They take referrals from doctors, the local COmmunity Drug and Alcohol Team and through SPEAR’s services. The service aims to provide a bespoke solution to substance misuse, whilst also providing services (either ourselves, or through referral) that can tackle any other support needs that the individual has.

The Outreach Team provides individuals with an excellent service, enabling people to leave the street and take their first steps towards a lasting, genuine independence. Rough Sleepers are located and ‘verified’, and we work with them to access temporary accommodation, whilst addressing other needs that were identified during the initial assessment. We also work with people who are homeless but not rough sleeping – for instance people who are staying on a friend’s floor.

Once a service user has found temporary accommodation, they can start to look for a tenancy. The Tenancy Support Team supports people in temporary and more permanent accommodation. For those who no longer need support we can refer to a housing association or help them to access private sector accommodation. For individuals who need a little more help, we also endeavour to offer supported tenancies, or shared flats (called training flats).

All our tenants can access the same support around their income, health and education as any of our other clients.

The Rent Deposit Scheme helps to prevent homelessness of individuals and families by helping them to access privately rented accommodation.

All applicants must have a local connection to Richmond and be at risk of homelessness. Applicants must also be able to prove that they can manage a private tenancy independently, and repay rent deposit loans made by the scheme. Staff then ensure that the first month’s rent is paid in advance for successful applicants, a deposit guarantee is issued to underwrite for damages, and agents’ fees are covered. Clients pay back advances made by the Scheme from their first housing benefit payments or by regular monthly instalments.

The service is provided in partnership with the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames.

Our Skills Development Worker aims to offer all our clients the chance to learn new skills and get involved in activities such as digital photography, fishing or bowling.

Longer term we support clients into volunteering, training and employment. We know that increased self esteem comes with small steps of change and that all these steps make the difference to maintain a home and breaking the cycle of homelessness.

SPEAR understands that everyone is individual and has different needs. We make every effort to provide a person centered approach to help clients achieve their goals so that they can live an independent, fulfilling life.

The Volunteering Officer recruits and manages SPEAR’s volunteer network which provides invaluable support both to our clients and our staff. For more information about volunteering, please see the ‘Working With Us’ page.