Our story

In 2012 ORL started life as a networking forum for faith and community groups that were working with people who were homeless. We identified the need for groups to work more closely together, to ensure there was daily food provision, especially for those individuals sleeping rough, and to avoid duplication of services. 

It soon became apparent that there were some gaps in services offered to people who were homeless, especially those without recourse to public funds. This led to ORL developing our own projects, but the partners decided that ORL needed to become a more formal entity to deliver on this. In October 2014, ORL was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). 

The first project developed and delivered was One Roof Homes. In 2015 we opened our first home as temporary accommodation for previously homeless people who could live semi-independently. Whilst in the home, they were supported to find permanent accommodation by both staff at ORL and volunteer members of the local community. Find out more about our ORL Homes.

In 2016, the Winter Night Shelter, the first interfaith shelter in the country, was launched to provide emergency accommodation over the winter months.  Each winter, we aimed to provide compassionate beds to those who needed them and help our guests find sustainable accommodation.  In 2019, we were extremely fortunate to have successfully applied for a Big Lottery Community Fund grant to open the One Roof Shelter, a fifteen-bed static shelter in the Leicester City Centre which supplements the rotating Winter Night Shelter for the remaining nine months of the year. Both the Winter Night Shelter and the One Roof Shelter are primarily staffed by trained volunteers who are supported in their work by the ORL staff.  

Due to the Covid pandemic, the night shelters had to close, and ORL Homes was expanded to accommodate the former night shelter guests. In 2022, ORL decided not to reopen the shelters and continue expanding ORL Homes.

ORL also promotes and raises awareness within the wider community about homelessness issues. We deliver workshops in schools, talks for faith and community groups, support organisations and individuals wanting to set up new projects and advise those who want to be actively involved. 

By working in partnership, we ensure that all people at risk of, experiencing or previously homeless are provided with sustainable housing and ongoing relevant support.