About Us

The Highway House is more than a homeless shelter. Since we opened our doors in 2009, almost 1000 people from over 60 nationalities have been helped with shelter, food and counselling, along with the opportunity for much needed companionship with others. We have helped those who have fallen on difficult times in their lives and need a helping hand. This includes those who are some of the most disenfranchised in our communities and without our help, would simply not be able to access other shelters in London (including those with no recourse to public funds).

The Highway House shelter work with a range of public services to ensure we are able to offer the fullest support to our residents. We work diligently with each person to ensure when they leave us they are ready to be independent once again and return to a full and fruitful life.

We are a registered charity, part of the Highway of Holiness Church, apart from our love and compassion there is no requirement to follow church teachings.

We have now run our homeless support activities for 13 years, we have revised and tailored our services to meet community need as we have progressed. We offer the following services to our guests:

  • Day centre twice weekly, deals with emergencies, urgent issues and longer term support
  • Provide laundry, shower facilities, clothes, and food
  • Provide training to help people increase their digital skills, many services are now inaccessible due to internet portals, it also facilitates searches for other local support and information, maintain contact with family and friends
  • Assist and support guests to secure housing
  • Provide support to improve physical/mental health
  • Provide training to live within a budget, pay bills, manage utility contracts etc
  • Assist with job search, applications, interviews and appropriate clothing to attend
  • Actively support guests into key agencies, particularly health and welfare support
  • Provide overnight accommodation, enabling guests to learn tenancy management skills

We have developed meaningful relationships with many complimentary service providers and agencies, this enables us to offer seamless holistic services, whilst securing and sharing additional expertise and resources.

We recognise being homeless is threatening, degrading and insecure, our first actions are to deal with the immediate need of homeless guests who turn to us. We then support them with longer term needs, we work with them to agree a programme of support.

Our ultimate aim is to enable our guests live an independent lifestyle as is possible for them. We remain with them throughout their journey and are always here should they need to return.

Our charity number is 1052667.

Our Day Centre is open to the homeless every;
Tuesday and Friday from 12pm to 3pm (excepts bank holidays)
The services provided are:
Free hot meal, use of shower, phone charging facilities, internet access, talking with our support workers about various issues including: housing, benefits, healthcare, applications, jobs, ID documents etc

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The
HighWay
House story

Highway House began with two homeless men, found sheltering in a shopfront.

"My wife Dorcas came across them, chatted with them and invited them to come and share a meal. The arrived two days later on the Saturday only to find that Highway was closed. They returned on the Monday with the crumpled leaflet she had given them stuffed in their pocket. They came in talked about their needs and we decided we could provide them with a hot meal three nights a week. About a month later we were surprised when we opened the door to find 20 more faces peering in back at us. The men had invited their friends - other men, in similar situations, living on the streets and in need, 'home for dinner'. Highway House was born then - although we didn't realise at the time. We soon decided to turn one of the toilets into a shower, so the men could wash, change, feel fresh and clean.The change in their confidence was enormous and soon the men were feeling more positive. They were able to go to job interviews clean and tidy and in turn they began to become more sociable with each other. One particular week after dinner, I decided to sit and chat a bit more with the men. I was pulled aside by a young man who began to confide in me. He felt so desperate in his situation that he was planning to commit suicide that night. Something told me he was serious and that if I let this man go, I would never see him again. So...

Read More

The full story of Highway House including all the challenges and what happened to the first two men that were helped, has been carefully documented in 'The Test Room' written by Rev. Alex Gyasi. Includes additional stories from some of the homeless men who have been helped by Highway House. Proceeds from the sale of this book go towards the work of Highway House.

To purchase a copy of the book on Amazon please click the button below.

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