Adam Outreach Project: Supporting homeless people in Suffolk

A year ago, Jason was homeless. Now, he’s living in a hostel run by Adam Outreach Project and studying for a qualification in social care. Find out more about Jason and the charity that’s helped him to turn his life around.  

Social Problem 

Around 300,000 people in England are currently homeless. Some are living in temporary accommodation or sofa surfing. Others are forced to sleep on the streets. There are many reasons why people become homeless, and hostels aren’t always equipped to offer the holistic support needed to help people get back on their feet.  

Organisation 

In 2004, Geoff Ward felt led by God to start a charity that would provide support for homeless men in Suffolk, using his small hotel as the foundation. Inspired by the story of Adam, the first man, Geoff named the charity Adam Outreach to symbolise reaching out to men in need. Soon after contacting Social Services, the first man they sent to him was, remarkably, named Adam, which Geoff saw as a confirmation of his vision. 

Today, Adam Outreach Project has four main properties. Hope House is where most of the men start out. Along with a room, the charity provides a range of support, including counselling, signposting, advice and twice-weekly communal meals. Once the men feel more stable and confident managing their day-to-day lives, they move into Grace House until they’re ready to live independently. The charity’s newest property is Harmony House, which will enable the charity to work with homeless women for the first time in the main houses.  

Loan 

Adam Outreach Project bought Harmony House with the help of a Charity Bank loan. The property is attached to Grace House, so will be managed by the same team. The charity was turned down by other lenders but was introduced to Charity Bank through a broker. David Brown, Chair of Adam Outreach Project, shares, “Daniel from Charity Bank, showed a personal interest in what we were doing. He came to see us and spent quality time with us. You just can’t get that face-to-face interaction with other banks. He met some of the residents, and he seemed genuinely excited by the project.” 

Impact  

As well as enabling Adam Outreach Project to work with more homeless people, Harmony House will allow the charity to branch out into a new service. David explains, “The plan for Harmony House is that we’ll have a mixture of people, who will hopefully live in harmony together. Some of those people will be referred to us because they’re homeless. Others will be people who need short-term respite and therapeutic support, for example because they’ve had an emotional breakdown, and whose families are able to pay for them to stay here.”  

The money those rooms bring in will help to pay for the loan and, ultimately, make sure the charity can continue its work for many years to come. And that work really is crucial. As Jason, one of the residents of Grace House, says, “If it wasn’t for Adam Outreach Project, I wouldn’t be sat here now. They give you the tools and support to get you where you want to be.” 

“I originally came to Hope House in February 2022. I thought I could run my life on my own again so left, but I failed quite miserably and came back in July 2023. I’ve just gone from strength to strength since then. That’s all down to Ricky Bolden, the manager. He’s saved my life. And David Brown has always had my back. Even when I left Hope House, he was fighting my corner and wanted the best for me.

“Nowhere else around here offers the care that Adam Outreach Project does. Here, you come into a loving, caring home with staff who want the best for you. They give you the tools and support to get you where you want to be.

“I’m repaying that faith now. I’m volunteering at a drug and alcohol misuse service and am studying a Level 3 Access course in social care. When I finally go back out into society, I want to give back and help people, like the Adam Outreach Project has helped me.” 

Jason from Adam Outreach Project 

“It would have taken us a very long time to raise enough money to buy the property. By going to Charity Bank, we’ve been able to launch something that we otherwise couldn’t have done for at least five years.” 

David Brown, Chair of Adam Outreach Project