Our story
We are deeply rooted in Leicester, focusing on eliminating homelessness through positively transforming the lives of people
In 2012, ORL started out 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 that there was daily food provision, especially for individuals sleeping rough, and to avoid overlaps in services.
It soon became apparent that there were some gaps in services, especially for those without recourse to public funds. This led to us developing our own projects, but the partners decided that ORL needed to become a formal entity in order to deliver on these. So, in October 2014, ORL was registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO).
The first project we developed and delivered was One Roof Homes. In 2015, we opened our first home, providing temporary accommodation for people who were homeless. Whilst staying in the home, ORL staff and volunteers supported them with finding permanent accommodation.
In 2016, we launched the Winter Night Shelter to provide emergency accommodation over the winter months. It was the first interfaith shelter in the country where multiple faith groups provided venues, volunteers and food.
Due to the Covid pandemic, the night shelter had to close and ORL Homes was expanded to accommodate the former night shelter guests. As of 2026, ORL Homes has expanded to 13 properties around Leicester with a total of 39 bed spaces. 5 of these are owned by us, 5 are on long-term leases at a peppercorn rent, and the remaining 3 are at a reduced rent. Find out more about our ORL Homes.
In 2025, after a 5 year closure, we reopened the Winter Night Shelter due to rising numbers of rough sleepers across the city and county. Located in the city centre, the new static shelter ran from December 1st to March 31st with 20 bedspaces provided each night, plus an additional 19 emergency bedspaces during periods of severe cold weather.
In the summer of 2026, we will be opening our new accommodation project, the Mattioli Centre. With support from the Ian and Clare Mattioli Charitable Trust, this project increases our bedspace provision from 39 to 52, and will allow us to provide on-site support and training for our residents. Our hope is to create a space for community engagement, where individuals can find a sense of belonging and hope for the future. Find out more about the Mattioli Centre.
ORL also promotes and raises awareness of homelessness issues within the wider community. We organise talks for faith and community groups, support those wanting to set up new projects, and advise those who want to be actively involved.
By working in partnership, we ensure that all people experiencing homelessness are provided with sustainable housing and ongoing support.