NEWS

Earlier this week you heard from me but now it’s time you heard from some of our volunteers themselves! Who are these mysterious folk? What do they do and why do they keep coming back? Today I thought I would hand over to some of our stars to tell their stories and why they choose…

Volunteers are invaluable to Homeless Oxfordshire. They bring a diverse range of skills, unique talents, life experience and passion to our organisation. As the Volunteer Development Manager, I may be a little biased when I say that volunteering is simply a brilliant thing that anyone can do, but it really is true.  And in celebration…

After her flat was taken over by a new landlord, Penny* couldn’t afford the increased rent. Struggling with her mental health after a divorce, Penny became homeless and started living on the streets. Since sharing her story, Penny has moved on to independent living. “I’ve worked all my life and I’ve managed to live a…

Running 13.1 miles is no mean feat! But for Amber, a personal determination to make a lasting difference pushed her through training. And on Sunday 6th October she completed the Oxford Half Marathon! So welcome to our guest blogger and running hero, Amber. What inspired you to run the Oxford Half for Homeless Oxfordshire? Rough…

We are in the middle of a homelessness crisis. And despite ambitious efforts to end rough sleeping in the next 10 years, the numbers of those without homes continues to rise. In Oxford, over 100 households a month approach the City Council identifying as homeless and asking for help. In just five years rough sleeping…

Emma* came to Homeless Oxfordshire after escaping an abusive marriage. In one of our community properties, Emma had a safe space to recover and rebuild her life. With our support, she went back to work as a teacher and moved into privately rented accommodation. “I’ve been homeless twice in my life. The first time I…

Jon was struggling. With issues around drug dealing, sex working and financial abuse, he saw no light at the end of the tunnel. In his despair, he turned to Homeless Oxfordshire for help. As a high priority, vulnerable client, we got to work fast, creating a safe and well-monitored space for Jon to live comfortably…

Change is good. We help people change their lives on a daily basis. So it makes sense for us to evolve too. You might have noticed we recently changed our name from Oxford Homeless Pathways to Homeless Oxfordshire. Curious about our rebrand? Here’s why we did it: Economical – cuts in statutory funding meant we…

How did you end up homeless? I’ve always been getting in to trouble unfortunately, been getting in and out of prison since I was 15. I’d go to prison, then when I’d get out I’d stay with family, or sofa surf round friends flats. I’m 39 now, so this pattern has been going on for…