history and development
The Community was founded in 1999 by three young men in their 20s.
Partly inspired by Anton Wallich Clifford's commitment to homeless people in London, they set about supporting the street-homeless of Leeds. Working initially from a rented house in Meanwood, they built up a group of 30+ volunteers to help reach out to these marginalised people.
The Community works with clients who often experience exclusion because of problems with addiction or mental illness (e.g. 80% have been banned from hostel accommodation). We focus on those who have been excluded from other agencies; a recent survey found that 53% of our clients were not in contact with any other homeless agency. We also find that many of our clients have ended up sleeping rough after being discharged from short prison sentences, then re-offending, and we are developing ways of providing support to them while they serve their sentences.
More information on the Community's history and development is available.
anton wallich clifford (1963)
(Source: "Caring on Skid Row" and "No Fixed Abode")
