Can people living in supported accommodation integrate with the wider Community?

Most supported accommodation is hidden away, designed to ‘blend in’, designed 'not to worry the neighbours’, designed to stop ‘NIMBYs’ worry about house prices or that the throng of birdsong might be interrupted by ‘blaring’ music from time to time….need I go on…you get the gist.

I live in central Nottingham on a mixed community street with big Victorian houses and lots of supported and social housing - it is a healthy, happy, colourful street, and I can testify there is seldom blaring music (and that's generally in the summer from older teenagers / young men from the wealthier homes washing their expensive cars!) and I still hear plentiful birdsong in my garden :)

There prevails however, a mix of wary attitudes in the general community combined with a severe lack of confidence of those living in supported accommodation presuming they are unwanted. But overcoming it is a path to personal progress, good mental health, and a happier community for all. Shouldn't everyone be able to say “we are proud to be here” – this is our community too, and we will give, take, learn, and become valued members of the community?

It can be done. There are many such examples of schemes up and down the country, to achieve just this.

Here are two brilliant examples.

Spitalfields Crypt Trust (SCT), based in Shoreditch, east London, this charity helps people recovering from addiction and homelessness not just with a roof over their head but real community integration. Here's how they do it:
They run Acorn House, a recovery hostel, alongside a training centre and social enterprises like a furniture upcycling shop (Restoration Station) and a café (Paper and Cup). These enterprises are open to the public and involve local residents, creating a two-way community presence. Clients gain work skills, interact with local people, and contribute value to Shoreditch—fostering real inclusion. It's not “us and them”—it's “we”.

At Canopy Housing, Leeds here is another brilliant example of community-led supported housing that's genuinely integrated. Volunteers—including people who’ve experienced homelessness—team up to renovate empty properties in Leeds. Once refurbished, tenants (who helped build them) move in. This model promotes skills training, community building, and neighbourly interaction from day one.

The other less organised and easy thing to do to help is when you see a new face say hello, introduce yourself, and express interest just like you would any other neighbour......unfortunately most people don't.
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