People without these support networks are also more likely to be targeted by criminals and drug dealers, who ‘befriend’ and then take advantage of them.

For those who have been homeless in the past, getting back in touch with family and old friends can be a daunting prospect.

At Thames Reach we help everybody we work with – on the street, in hostels or in their own flats – to rebuild those relationships. We also encourage people to find new friends, and have a range of activities that help to make this possible. These include:

the Culture Club, which goes on cinema, museum and walking trips
our training and work programmes
activities run within our hostels, such as games nights, art groups, creative writing classes and trips outside London

Many of these activities are run from our Hudson House resource centre, where people can get support from staff, find companionship and take part in training. Weekly cafè mornings provide an opportunity for people to meet new friends and share experiences, as well as access computers and the internet.