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An update from Helen Carlin, Founder of Common Ground Against Homelessness
I thought I would share a quick update with you as to where we are, and what we have been up to since our first share offer in 2021.
I thought I would share a quick update with you as to where we are, and what we have been up to since our first share offer in 2021.
Most importantly the nine tenants at our first property, Thorntree Mill, are settled with five of the gentlemen being there since opening. There has been noticeable improvement in mental and physical health, reduction in drug use and greater engagement with the sort of services that will help them achieve long term independence. It’s a great testament to the support that the Rowan Alba staff offer 24/7, 365 days a year.
Although it was supposedly “eradicated” during Covid street homelessness, or rough sleeping, is back on our streets. There are now 75 street homeless people in Edinburgh. That number may not seem high when compared to the scale of homeless people in temporary accommodation, but the impact on the minds and bodies of those people and consequent costs to society through the legal and health systems is significant. The Covid era showed that with the right will and resources, as a society we are capable of addressing these problems at scale.
As you know, in 2024/2025 we had high hopes of acquiring a former hotel in Edinburgh to develop into 12 homes for life for women. If we had a spare £250,000 sitting in our bank at the time we could have launched a share offer to raise the rest of the capital and achieve our ambition. However, we didn’t, and with ‘ethical lenders’ viewing the project as too risky we had to watch as the property was sold to another buyer for conversion into more private flats.
There are precious few affordable properties in Edinburgh which are suitable for conversion, so this was a big blow to us. Nonetheless, we have taken time to reflect and define a new path. Our board sees a new strategy using social media to encourage donations and drum up corporate support as our best way to progress towards our next property. Without a sizeable budget to compete in a charity media landscape dominated by big players with huge reserves this is a real challenge. We are also aware of complicating our message of investment vs donations. However, donations will bring us flexible income on which to base a new property purchase, without needing to pay a return.
I hope to see lots of you at our online AGM on the 24th June. We’ll be interested to hear your thoughts and ideas about how we take our organisation forward. None of it would have been possible with your generous support. Thank you.CommonGround Against Homelessness is controlled by our members and the AGM is themain forum for doing so. Therefore I encourage all those who can attend to do so. Itprovides an opportunity for you to ask questions about the work of the society,receive our accounts, hear about the dividend, elect the board and you can helpto set policy and agree priorities for the year ahead.
Helen Carlin has over 30 years of experience of delivering front-line solutions to homelessness that have been effective in reducing the misery of repeat homelessness
It's about more than just investments.
It's about more than just investments.
We need your donations as well.
We need your donations as well.
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