Personalised cash grants to help people out of homelessness for good.
£1,319 spent by Greater Change unlocks £35,177 in cost savings to the government. A return of over 20x.
Supported by our trusted partners
Our vision is for Greater Change to no longer be needed.
The impact and efficiency of the Greater Change model is undeniable and we ultimately want to contribute to policy change and see the end of homelessness for good.
Our Impact
Why Our Approach Works
We recognise that it is important to meet people where they are and will always work with them and their key workers to build a realistic plan around their ambitions.
We have rejected fewer than 10 cases in our history so far.
Due to our lean team and collaborative approach, our support costs an average of just £1,319 per person in 2022/23.
This approach has resulted in 86% of our clients maintaining their move out of homelessness after our support.
We work with partner charities to deliver our support, leveraging and complementing their local knowledge and strong existing relationships with clients.
Our approach is very simple. Individuals experiencing homelessness and their support workers tell us themselves what will be effective in supporting them out of homelessness. We listen and provide the cash to fund it. Cash works and we have the evidence to prove it.
How it works
More people than ever are falling through the cracks and becoming trapped in homelessness.
At the same time, the pathways out of homelessness are full of varied obstacles and very few ever get the chance to leave homelessness behind on their terms.
We want to change this.
Greater Change partners with local homelessness charities who have strong existing relationships with their clients. These clients then work with their support workers to apply for Greater Change’s funding when they need a financial boost.
Greater Change works with the client and their support worker to agree on what will be funded. The client has control over the process, with Greater Change using its experience and expertise to ensure that the funding will have a sustainable, transformative impact.
The funding is then transferred to the partner charity who purchases the agreed goal. For some clients, the funding is raised through the website, however the majority can’t appear on the website for safety and privacy reasons. These clients receive funding from monthly donations and other sources, which also enables Greater Change to respond to urgent requests and release funding quickly.
6-12 months following the release of the grant, Greater Change follows up with the client and their support worker to measure its impact. We measure how the funding has changed the client’s situation across eight key metrics, including housing stability, employment and substance misuse if relevant. Find more about our impact here.
What our partners say
Real stories
Verity and her baby Charlie were living with her partner and his parents, when the relationship starting turning controlling and coercive. She had no support network and felt that she had lost her independence so needed Greater Change’s help to secure her own tenancy for herself and Charlie.
“I’ve learnt so many more skills. Thank you so much for donating, Greater Change has helped me a lot.”
After a midwife identified that Mel’s home was not suitable to bring a newborn baby home to, Greater Change provided Mel, who was already 28 weeks pregnant, with funding to cover the rent and money for furnishings for a new flat which was a safe, stable and comfortable environment to complete her pregnancy and bring her baby home to.“
I felt like I was in a dungeon.I was at the pit of the dungeon but now I feel like I’m out, not fully out, but out and I can see the sunlight and I can feel the grass at the top and everything, so now I’m much better.”
Live Campaigns
Meet Lisa
"Lisa has been a pleasure to work with as she’s grown into the person she wanted to be. She’s very supportive and encouraging to others. She has now been offered a chance to build her own home through local council housing support, but needs funding to make it a reality. " - Barry Bell, Aspire Support Worker
FAQs
Greater Change’s funding comes from a range of sources including individual donations, philanthropy, grant-making bodies, local councils and corporate partnerships.
One off and monthly donations through the website are vital in enabling Greater Change to support hundreds of clients per year. 100% of these donations go directly to the campaigns of clients we support, with operational costs funded by local councils and grant-making bodies.
Greater Change supports people who are homeless or at immediate risk of becoming homeless. Our funding helps them to take transformative steps out of homelessness for good.
Greater Change partners with local homelessness charities who have strong existing relationships with their clients. These clients then work with their support workers to apply for Greater Change’s funding when they need a financial boost. Once the funding goal is agreed, Greater Change transfers the grant to the partner charity, which purchases the goal directly.
Our clients can apply for anything that will help them take significant steps out of homelessness. By not having set criteria, we trust those we support and give them control over the process. Common goals include rent deposits, vital furnishings, ID and training courses, but we have also funded many less common goals including exam resits, WiFi and disability adjustments.
Over 90% of those we support choose not to appear on the platform for safety and privacy reasons. There is no obligation to do so and those who don’t are no less likely to receive our support than those who do.
Many of those who receive support from Greater Change choose to keep their profile anonymous. For safety and privacy reasons, it is often inappropriate to publish any identifying information.
Our flexible platform allows you to make a one off/monthly donation instead of donating to a particular campaign. This is used to support clients who need the money urgently or who choose to remain anonymous for safety and privacy reasons. No matter how you donate, 100% of your money will be used to help our clients.
