A local charity which aims to help the ‘hidden homeless’ is looking for kind-hearted Beckenham residents to offer a spare room to those in need.
Living Amicably Together in Caring Homes, more commonly known as LATCH, is a Bromley-based charity for those aged over 18 who are homeless and aims to provide them with a support base in order for them to build resilience in the first steps to independent living.
The hidden homeless are those who do not show up in official figures, for example those who become homeless but find a temporary solution like staying with family members or friends, living in squats or other insecure accommodation.
The charity is urgently appealing for ‘Hosts’ – local householders and homeowners with a spare room and a willingness to help and support a homeless person in need. A short assessment allows LATCH to determine whether they can place a homeless client into the accommodation of one of its Hosts.
A LATCH spokesperson told News in Beckenham: “As homelessness grows, we are receiving more enquiries from the Beckenham and Penge area of this borough and so we have made 2018 our year of raising awareness in Beckenham. We would encourage anyone with a spare room and who might have been thinking how they can help, to get in touch with us.
“We will do our best to get their questions answered enabling them to make a decision either way – there is absolutely no obligation to move forward unless the householder is sure they can be a good Host. We offer equal support to our Hosts and Clients because it’s a new experience for each and every new relationship.”
The next LATCH event will be a back-to-school coffee morning on Thursday, 26 April. For more information and to find out how you can help visit info@latch-project.co.uk or call 020 8460 0042.