Homelessness National Group

Join the National Homelessness Group

We are recruiting key decision makers and strategic thinkers from our member organisations to join our National Homelessness Group.

Our national groups support us in developing and testing specific policy ideas, gathering vital member intelligence, informing our work with key stakeholders, and acting as ambassadors for our work. Members of our national groups have the opportunity to shape debates at a national level, in a dynamic setting and with support from NHF staff.

What does the group do?

With ever increasing numbers of rough sleepers, challenges around move-on accommodation and need among tenants, and new regulation hitting the sector, the work of the Group has never been more important. The new government has committed to a cross-government strategy to end homelessness, working with local councils and mayors, with the Deputy Prime Minister heading up a new inter-ministerial taskforce to lead this work. The National Homelessness Group promotes housing associations as key partners to meet this ambition and seeks to influence and inform work in the sector to support rough sleepers, families at risk of homelessness and groups particularly vulnerable to homelessness.

We have identified four areas of thematic focus for the year ahead:

• Policy and regulation
• Innovation and partnerships
• Affordability and sector challenges
• Impact on marginalised groups.

Members of this group include housing association members as well as non-members co-opted on for their knowledge and expertise in the field. Members are expected to participate in quarterly meetings (three virtual and one in person). There are also opportunities to lead on various workstreams of the group and to represent the group in NHF campaigns and events. There will also be some invitations to attend ad hoc roundtables or respond to requests for feedback or information in between meetings

Who are we looking for?

We are recruiting up to six new members to join this well-established group. We are looking for decision-makers in housing associations, but this doesn’t just mean chief executives. We want to draw on expertise from across the sector and individuals with a professional interest in homelessness. If you’re a key decision-maker in your organisation and have experience of working on strategies to prevent homelessness or house rough sleepers, then we would like to hear from you.

We are keen to hear from housing associations of all sizes that provide and/or manage supported housing and/or are providers of general needs housing.

Ensuring a cross section of our membership is represented is important to us. With this in mind, during the shortlisting process, we will take into consideration size, type and geographical location of housing associations as well as individuals in the group and organisational focus.

We particularly encourage applications from housing associations operating in rural areas and housing associations working with further marginalised groups such as: women rough sleepers, young people, ethnic minorities, migrants, care and prison leavers, domestic abuse victim/survivors, LGBTQ people or veterans.

We are committed to actively improving the diversity of the group and encourage applications from women and ethnic minorities.

What do group members do?

Group members should be available to attend quarterly, virtual meetings throughout 2025. There will also be some invitations to attend ad hoc roundtables or respond to requests for feedback or information in between meetings.

How can I apply?

Please complete the application form by 13 January 2025.

A panel will consider all applications and there will be no interview process.
For an informal conversation about the group and its work, please contact us.