This winter is proving a challenge for everyone. At Hope we’re making sure that everyone in our 12 houses for homeless asylum seekers is safe and warm, but also making sure we can afford to pay the heating bills.

A few years ago we commissioned environmental reports on all of our houses and then took action to make them more sustainable. This went from the obvious like better roof insulation to things that we’d not really thought about like enough clothes airers so people weren’t using radiators to dry clothes in winter, or replacing washing up bowls so people weren’t having to use a full sink of hot water to wash up. Things as small as better fitting letterboxes to big projects like fitting smart heating controls.

Earlier this autumn we met with our residents and explored ways of keeping warm without spending lots of money. We’ve replaced all of the duvets so everyone has at least a Tog 10.5 to keep them warm at night, and with help from St Mary’s school in Harborne we have made sure that everyone has a hot water bottle. We’re replacing thin curtains with thicker ones to keep the cold out.

Finally, our trustees agreed to increase the ‘destitution fund’ payments that we make to our clients by £5 per week, as they try to keep up with the rising cost of food in the shops.

As a result we’re going to be able to keep the lights and the heating on, and our clients will be able to keep food on the table. It all comes at a cost, though. We’re expecting to spend over £20,0000 more than we budgeted for at the start of the year.

If you want to help, you can donate at https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/21681