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Our Monument Community Trust is delighted to be supporting the Oxford homeless charity OxHoP as it celebrates its 25th anniversary

Posted on Thursday, September 15th, 2011

An Oxford charity is celebrating 25 years at the heart of services for homeless people in Oxfordshire.

Oxford Homeless Pathways, www.oxhop.org.uk, started life as the Oxford Night Shelter on Luther Street in 1986. It is celebrating a journey from the early days as a single converted building offering ‘food, warmth and shelter’ at night only, to being a cornerstone operation offering a wide range of resettlement and support services to homeless people.

Says Chief Executive, Lesley Dewhurst: “It has been an amazing journey in which we have been able to help thousands of people successfully transform their lives. Our charity has grown from a night shelter to a much bigger and more extensive operation, driven by a fantastic team of staff and volunteers, and supported by a range of organisations and businesses. We’ll pause to reflect on those 25 years and then return to our biggest challenge as a charity – to keep getting in the money that makes it all possible.”

The charity’s flagship accommodation building O’Hanlon House – named after inspirational founder Paddy O’Hanlon – is now a purpose-designed building on the site of the old shelter. It’s open 24/7 with accommodation for 56 people overnight and up to 80 during the day. Services for the people it works with now cover assessment and support on housing needs, helping tackle the problems that have led to homelessness, providing welfare rights advice, encouraging progress towards training and employment, and follow up support for clients who have been resettled.

OxHoP – as Oxford Homeless Pathways is known – also runs Julian Housing, a network of supported accommodation for people who’ve been homeless and are ready to take the next step. Offering 83 rooms across 14 different properties, Julian Housing supports its residents to sustain and thrive in independent accommodation. OxHoP also raises much need money through its Oxford Homeless Medical Fund, which supports the work of the nearby Luther Street Medical Centre, a primary care facility dedicated to working with homeless people.

Says fundraiser, Christy Spenle: “We’re celebrating our 25th anniversary at one of the most challenging times we’ve faced in terms of fundraising. We’ve always had fantastic support and now is a great moment for our local businesses and organisations to build on that, whether it be by making a financial donation, giving of their time, or offering gifts in kind such as good-condition furniture, garden tools, single bedding and towels, or warm clothing.”

One highlight of the OxHop 25th anniversary celebration will be an event for around 100 people including current and former staff, donors and supporters, and partner agencies, in Oxford.