The Justlife Foundation is a UK-based nonprofit organization registered under the charity number 1140822, dedicated to addressing homelessness and housing vulnerability. The foundation operates primarily in Brighton & Hove, Greater Manchester, and Bradford, focusing on supporting people living in temporary accommodation to improve their living conditions and transition into sustainable housing.

Mission and Vision

The Justlife Foundation aims to make the experience of temporary accommodation as short, safe, and healthy as possible. It supports individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing health, housing, and wellbeing support. The organization envisions a society where no one faces homelessness alone and seeks to empower people with knowledge of their housing rights and options to secure more stable homes.

Activities and Services

Justlife provides person-centered support to help individuals overcome barriers to living independently. Its core services include:

• Health engagement and coordination to improve mental and physical health and facilitate access to specialist care.
• Support for moving out of homelessness into stable housing through tailored housing plans.
• Collaboration with temporary accommodation providers to enhance living conditions.
• Creating safe spaces and social networks for people with experiences of homelessness to share their voices and advocate for change.
• Engagement with policymakers and participation in research to influence housing policy and improve conditions for temporary accommodation residents.

The organization operates several programs such as Mobile Justlife for outreach, Targeted Referrals for specialist support, and forums like Temporary Accommodation Action Groups (TAAGs) for community involvement.

Strategic Focus

Justlife embraces a flexible and innovative approach, continuously adapting its interventions to the evolving health and social care landscape. The foundation emphasizes elevating the voices of service users in shaping its work and seeks partnerships with other organizations to avoid unnecessary competition while maximizing community impact.

Its strategy includes three core workstreams:

• Regeneration: Supporting innovative physical regeneration projects.
• Resourcing: Ensuring vulnerable individuals access relevant services.
• Research: Developing a deeper understanding of community needs through evidence gathering.

Funding and Governance

For the financial year ending March 31, 2024, Justlife reported a total income of approximately £1.5 million, primarily from charitable activities and government grants, with expenditures closely aligned to support fundraising and charitable programs. The charity employs 39 staff members, supported by 50 volunteers and governed by 11 trustees.

Impact

Justlife has played a crucial role in preventing homelessness and supporting vulnerable adults through frontline services and advocacy. Testimonials from service users highlight its effectiveness in providing life-changing advice, support for mental health, and assistance to those transitioning out of prison or other challenging circumstances.

The Justlife Foundation exemplifies a comprehensive and compassionate approach to tackling homelessness by combining direct support, community engagement, and policy advocacy to improve the lives of people in temporary accommodation across the UK.

[1] https://www.justlife.org.uk [2] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1140822&subId=0 [3] https://www.justlife.org.uk/about-us [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5016508/full-print [5] https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/328732/just_life_foundation