Just walked in and got emotional. This feels like a proper home. I love the green. Thank you so much. This is overwhelming, I don’t even know what to say. I don’t ever get anything done for me. I’m so used to doing everything alone. I’m truly grateful.
Our House to Home Programme
Moving into a new home should be a fresh start. But for people facing housing or financial challenges, empty rooms can feel like a long way from home.
We provide practical support to people who may be struggling to make their house feel like a home. This might include helping to furnish a room, choosing colours and furnishings, or bringing a space to life with the help of our volunteers. Each household can choose the rooms they want to transform, select colours and be supported to design their space around the things that matter to them. We combine professional design, volunteer decorating, and donated furniture from Habitat ReStore to create homes that are comfortable, welcoming and reflect the people who live in them.
Our approach is personal. We work with each household to understand what they need and what is important to them, so that the finished space feels like their home, rather than simply a room that has been furnished for them.
Who do we support?
House to Home supports people experiencing housing need in Havering who may not be able to afford the practical help they need themselves.
This includes people experiencing financial hardship, as well as women and families rebuilding their lives after domestic abuse.
We also support people who have experienced homelessness or are moving into a new tenancy, and families who do not have essential furniture.
House to Home can also help older or disabled people who are struggling with their home, and people whose home environment is affecting their safety, wellbeing or independence.
Please note: House to Home works through approved referral partners. We do not currently accept direct referrals from individuals.
How does House to Home work?
1. A household is referred to us.
House to Home referrals are made through community organisations supporting people who are experiencing housing or financial challenges. Unfortunately, we cannot take direct referrals from people. We currently accept referrals from:
2. We visit the home.
Following a referral, our House to Home team works with the household and their support worker to understand their circumstances and identify the areas where practical support could make the biggest difference.
Together, we look at what is already available, what is needed and which rooms or spaces the household would most like to transform.
3. The household design their home.
Our House to Home supervisor works with the household to develop ideas for their space. People can choose colours, furnishings and the rooms they would like to focus on, helping them create a home that reflects their personality and needs.
Where appropriate, furniture and household items are provided through Habitat ReStore, our social enterprise selling low-cost furniture, homeware.
4. Our volunteers bring the plans to life.
Our volunteers provide practical decorating support, helping to paint and transform rooms and make the changes happen. It’s a team effort, bringing together the household, our staff, community partners, volunteers and donated resources.
If you’re interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.
5. A house becomes a home.
The result is more than a newly decorated room or a piece of furniture. It is a space where someone can feel comfortable, proud and at home. A home that feels like theirs.
One of the most important parts of House to Home is giving people a say in how their space looks and feels. For someone who has experienced a difficult life transition, being able to choose a colour, arrange a room or select a piece of furniture is incredibly important. Our aim is not simply to provide things. It is to work alongside people to create a home that feels personal, welcoming and right for them.
Could you help someone make a home?
House to Home relies on the support of volunteers, donors and community partners to make these transformations possible. Our volunteers help with practical decorating and transformation projects, working alongside our House to Home team to make a real difference to people’s homes.
You don’t need to be a professional decorator. What’s important is that you are willing to get stuck in, work as part of a team and help create a positive experience for the people we support.
If you’re an individual interested in volunteering, please fill out this form.
If you’re an organisation interested in corporate volunteering, please fill out the form below.
Already an approved referral partner?
Want to become a referral partner?
