The Clapham day centre serving 3,000 meals a month

What if homelessness support began with an open door, a hot meal and a conversation? Ace of Clubs in Clapham brings practical help together. Here are four things worth knowing.

1. The challenge
   People facing homelessness often need food, washing facilities, healthcare and housing advice at the same time. Referral rules can make help harder to reach.

2. How Ace of Clubs responds
   Guests can turn up without a referral. The weekday centre offers £1 lunches, clothing, showers, laundry, computers, support workers, NHS nurses, a mobile dentist and housing advice.

3. What the evidence says
   Its kitchen serves 3,000 meals a month, distributes more than 1,000 clothing items a year and hosts 200 hours of NHS nursing annually. Guests describe gaining confidence, friendship and stability.

4. What it means
   Putting practical services under one roof can make the first step smaller and preserve dignity. These figures are reported by the charity, however, and meals or showers cannot create affordable homes. Its latest accounts show expenditure of £422,800 exceeded £382,537 income, underlining the need for sustainable funding.

Sources

• Ace of Clubs and Charity Commission