The Passage offers immediate help and long-term support to people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, helping to address the issues that have contributed to their circumstances and providing resources that offer safe and sustainable routes off the street.
The charity was founded in 1980 by Cardinal Basil Hume and The Daughters of Charity who in response to the growing number of people sleeping rough in Westminster opened a day centre with a single employee and a small number of volunteers. Today, The Passage runs a modern Resource Centre in Victoria, three residential and resettlement projects, outreach and health services, homelessness prevention schemes and a pioneering modern slavery referral programme. Last year, they supported around 1,000 people to end their homelessness.
The project will see a major refurbishment of two residential buildings – Passage House Assessment Centre in Pimlico and Bentley House, located on the top floor of The Passage’s St Vincent’s Centre in Carlisle Place. Passage House provides rapid-response resettlement services for those who are new to the streets, supporting up to 160 people each year – it has impressive outcomes with over 80% of clients moving on to secure accommodation. The service has been housed for many years in a building that regularly floods with shared bathroom facilities and so the project will be transformative, with the creation of 40 new en-suite bedrooms and modern, multi-functional, safe communal spaces for clients and staff. The project at Bentley House will create 20 brand-new self-contained flats in the heart of Westminster, providing homes for life for people who have a long history of street homelessness and for whom no other viable move on options are available.
The DACB pro bono legal team is being led by James Harrison, a construction partner in the firm’s property team.
James comments, “DAC Beachcroft’s support for our homeless communities is an important part of our volunteering programme and we are incredibly proud to extend this support even further through our pro bono legal services. For over 40 years, The Passage has carried out fantastic work in helping people who are homeless in the long-term and we are pleased to play our part by supporting them on this very important project.”
Mick Clarke, Chief Executive of The Passage comments, “This major refurbishment project will ensure that we can continue to meet the current and emerging needs of people impacted by street homelessness – both those who are new to the streets and at risk of becoming ‘stuck’ in the street-based lifestyle we so often see in central London, as well as those for whom there is no other permanent housing solution. The project is a major investment for The Passage and we simply could not achieve our ambitions without the generous support of our partners. I would like to thank James and the fantastic team at DAC Beachcroft for giving their time and talent so freely. With their help, we can work towards our vision of a society where street homelessness no longer exists and everyone has a place to call home.”
