The Royal Borough of Greenwich has been commended in the London Homelessness Awards for its collaborative work with a local community organisation representing migrant woman, helping improve the lives of families living in temporary accommodation.
The council’s project was commended for making a special contribution to helping combat homelessness in London. It was highly regarded for partnering with Creating Ground CIC, ensuring that the voices and real-life experiences of people in temporary accommodation shaped the council’s approach.
This helped the council go further, faster and better, which was evidenced by its successful reduction in the number of households in hotel rooms from 271 households in January 2024 (161 families/93 singles) to fewer than 10 single people and zero families in July 2025.
Councillor Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing Management, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness, said: “I’m incredibly proud of our commendation for the work we’ve done in partnership with Creating Ground and of the impact it has had to help us really ‘see’ what life can be like through the eyes of people who have lived in temporary accommodation. We will continue to lead with ambition, drive innovation, and do the very best we can to improve the lives and outcomes for residents experiencing homelessness.”
The collaboration has led to the co-production of a new guide to help people in temporary accommodation and provided them with access to Wi-Fi via free SIM cards. Creating Ground also held workshops with around 80 staff from the Housing Inclusion and Support Service, to ensure the voice of children and families could be heard, and worked with Plumcroft School to produce an incredible and highly emotional animation about life in hotels called Snow Inn Hotel | Creating Ground.
On 27 November a group of staff from the council and Stronger Together Leaders from Creating Ground attended the London Homelessness Awards ceremony, where they received a certificate of High Commendation from Baroness Louise Casey.
Creating Ground is a social enterprise led by women from migrant backgrounds who use collaborative arts to promote better wellbeing and social change, including improving the experience of those in temporary accommodation.
Laura Marziale, Director, Creating Ground CIC, said: “We are extremely happy that the work we have done together with the Royal Borough of Greenwich has been commended. This partnership shows what is possible when community organisations and local authorities collaborate with trust, empathy and genuine co-production at the heart of the process. It also demonstrates the power of community leadership, the importance of involving those with lived experience in identifying solutions, and how creativity and the arts can help build connection, understanding and solidarity.”
The London Homelessness Awards are sponsored by the London Homelessness Foundation, London Housing Directors, Mayor of London, Crisis and Shelter.
They recognise the significant achievements and excellent work of housing and homelessness organisations in London, including charities, third sector organisations and local government, working with people who are, or are at risk of becoming, homeless.