One of our outreach services has been shortlisted for the London Homelessness Award.

The award – which has been running for the past 20 years – received more than 30 applications this year which judges had to whittle it down to just six – one of which being St Mungo’s street outreach service in Westminster.

Westminster SOS provides support and assistance to anyone sleeping rough in Westminster.

When people are found accommodation, they are then offered bespoke support so they can maintain accommodation and do not return to the streets.

This includes support with housing, health, immigration, access to benefits and reconnections where appropriate.

The winners of the award will receive £30,000 towards their work.

Kathleen Sims St Mungo’s Head of Westminster said: “I am absolutely delighted that St Mungo’s Westminster Street Outreach Service has been shortlisted for the London Homelessness Award. We have been chosen alongside some other hugely remarkable projects so it is an honour to be recognised amongst them and the wonderful work that they too, do.

“Our teams work incredibly hard every year but this year has been a year like no other, and we have had to work even harder, to support as many people as possible off the streets and into accommodation where they could safely self-isolate.

“Although the team has supported hundreds of people, sadly, new people are still finding themselves homeless every day due to the fall out of the pandemic and this battle is not over yet, so I feel extra proud of our team for not only doing a tremendous job which has made a difference to so many people’s lives, but for also being recognised for our efforts, during what has been a very difficult year for us all.”

Simon Dow, Chair of the judging panel for the London Homelessness Awards said: “In a strange and uniquely challenging year for the housing and homelessness sector we were very pleased with the number and quality of applications received.

“Yet again we saw examples of really high quality innovative work being carried out by a wide variety of organisations across London, helping people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“It was as ever very tricky to agree a final six but these projects show real imagination, sustainability and commitment to help reduce homelessness in London.”

The other five projects who have been shortlisted include:

All of the six projects will now be visited by a member of London Homelessness Award panel and the final winner and runners up, who will share a prize fund of £60,000 will be announced at a special event on 14 October at Union Chapel in Islington.

The awards were originally set up in memory of Andy Ludlow, director of housing and social services at Haringey Council. He was a pioneer in developing a holistic approach to housing and social services.

After he died at the age of just 51 London’s housing directors set up the Homelessness Award as a lasting legacy and testament to his tireless work in the sector.

The awards are sponsored by the London Housing Foundation, London Housing Directors, Mayor of London, Crisis and Shelter, and this year for their 21st Anniversary, are being run in partnership with the Evening Standard Homeless Fund.

For more information about the London Homelessness Awards, visit www.lhawards.org.uk.