When Brian first walked into a community centre in Alton, Hampshire, to meet Callum, an Employment Support Adviser with Palladium, he arrived with few possessions and even fewer certainties. He was living in a tent, cut off from his family, struggling with substance misuse, and facing a future that felt increasingly precarious. But what he did have was determination – and that was enough to begin.

Brian was part of a small cohort of five young men enrolled on Palladium’s homelessness provision in Alton and Bordon, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through their Dynamic Purchasing System which provides specialised, targeted provision to address local needs.

Each participant was living in unstable makeshift accommodation, be it a tent, car, or temporary spots on friends’ sofas, and all were navigating the tangled challenges of homelessness, financial insecurity, and disrupted personal relationships. Advisors through the programme had just eight weeks with each participant to help them lay the groundwork for a safer, more stable future.

Much of that work happened face‑to‑face in community settings, backed by regular phone support to help with the essentials: navigating council services, arranging medical appointments, and completing the administrative steps that can feel impossible without help.

“Locally responsive support requires comprehensive casework and a strong partnership approach with locally embedded specialist organisations,” explains Becky Brocklehurst, Palladium’s Operations Director. Partnerships with Street Link, the Society of St James, and other local agencies proved essential – verifying rough sleeping, securing temporary accommodation, and connecting participants to financial support through organisations like Christians Against Poverty.

Tackling Homelessness and Stigma — One Practical Step at a Time

The work is hands‑on from day one. “We got stuck in straight away,” Callum says. “Sometimes that means starting with the basics – new clothes, haircuts, whatever helps rebuild confidence and a sense of identity.”

Advisers leaned on techniques refined through delivering the DWP Restart Scheme, prioritising resilience, skill‑building, and re-establishing supportive personal networks wherever possible. For many participants, managing money was a significant barrier. Advisors introduced online banking tools such as Monzo, ran financial skills sessions, and connected men to local and national debt‑support charities.

Navigating Challenges in Rural Hampshire

Supporting homeless individuals in rural Hampshire brings additional constraints: fewer resources, limited anonymity, and strict “local connection” requirements for housing support, so our advisers helped participants re‑establish contact with family members.

Sustainability was a guiding principle. Short-term benefits like gym memberships were avoided if they could not realistically be maintained once the programme ended. Instead, participants were linked to ongoing support services — particularly the Society of Saint James, a Hampshire homelessness charity — to ensure progress continued beyond the eight-week window.

The impact was tangible. All five men registered with the local council for housing, including one who was placed in assisted living, and one gained sustainable employment. Callum and the team accompanied the men to the GP surgery, providing advocacy to help them receive structured health support, help managing medication, and referring them to drug and alcohol services. Advisors also facilitated access to food banks and the National Debt Helpline.

A Case in Focus: David’s Story

For David, a young man around 20 with severe autism, the programme became a lifeline. Facing eviction due to rent arrears and living in unsafe conditions, he struggled to navigate housing systems that can overwhelm even the most confident applicants. His neurodivergent needs — including a phobia of being photographed — created additional complications, especially around obtaining ID.

With patient guidance, David learned to understand the council housing bidding system, built employability skills, and took steps toward independence. By the end of the programme, he was actively bidding for properties.

“When I first met my adviser, I was living with my father and facing eviction,” he says. “I had no idea where to start. As someone with ASD, it was difficult to understand the process. With guidance and reassurance, I felt confident enough to bid for properties myself. I feel a lot more hopeful now, and securing housing seems more reachable.”