Waltham Forest Churches Night Shelter

The Quaker Housing Trust supported Waltham Forest Churches Night Shelter (WFCNS) to purchase, renovate and retrofit a property in Waltham Forest that will provide supportive move-on accommodation for former homeless and rough sleeping adults who have experienced substance dependency and poor mental health. They purchased the property in March 2023, the works started in February 2024 and were completed in June 2025.

QHT was one of the earliest funders for the house providing move on accommodation for residents of Branches, a hostel providing support for people previously homeless.

QHT encouraged a refurbishment with low energy use and carbon emissions, bettering EPC C which QHT recommended at the time. This low energy low carbon approach was enthusiastically welcomed by other funders.

QHT early involvement has helped enable an exemplary refurbishment of a Victorian house into move-on accommodation for previously homeless people.

The refurbished house for 6 residents sharing has 6 ensuite rooms and a shared kitchen/dining and lounge space, and the works included the key components of the Passivhaus approach:

• Triple glazed windows
• Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery
• Electric only heating and hot water using an air source heat pump
• Extra insulated walls, floors and roofs
• PV panels on the roof

Each year 6-12 adults will be supported for 6-12 months to build their skills and confidence to be ready to move on to their own homes.

Residents will be able to access the support provided at the hostel WFCNS runs in Waltham Forest, called Branches, which is a short 30-minute bus journey away.