HOMELESS (INTERNATIONAL)

Homeless International supports slum dwellers to improve their lives and find lasting solutions to urban poverty. We are the only British charity devoted to the challenge of housing and basic services in slums.

One billion people live in slums. We help communities transform slums by supporting them to work together to secure land, build homes, access safe water and sanitation, and negotiate with governments – ensuring that they have a voice that gets heard.

All of our work is done through direct long-term partnerships with local organisations in Africa and Asia and by supporting projects that are led by poor communities.

Our history

In 1987, activists in the UK created the IYSH Trust - an organisation that was set up to meet a short term need to coordinate UK activities during the United Nations’ International Year of Shelter for the Homeless in that year. By the end of the year, it was clear that a huge job remained to be done. As a result, a decision was made to set up a permanent UK based organisation with the specific remit of supporting community-led shelter and settlement initiatives in the developing world. Established in 1989, that organisation was named Homeless International.