Empty House to Safe Haven Leeds

Aim: Help us turn an empty house into a safe, warm, home for people experiencing homelessness.

WHO ARE LATCH?

LATCH ( Leeds Action To Create Homes) is a community benefit society established in Chapeltown, Leeds in 1989. 

We've refurbished 111 empty and derelict houses over 36 years. Bringing them back into use as safe, comfortable high quality supported housing. For people in the most urgent need of housing.

80% of our tenants are women and their children, often overlooked as statistics don't accurately capture the 'hidden homeless'.

WHY IS LATCH NEEDED?

There are 4000+ long term empty houses in Leeds and 5000 people in urgent need of housing. We're bringing a solution to these two issues in a sustainable way. 

Returning homes back into use in the heart of communities. 

Empty houses attract anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and rodents. Removing these blights in turn improves the perception of safety and community pride in the surrounding streets and neighbourhoods.

WHAT DO LATCH DO?

Once renovated, homeless people live in the homes and are supported for as long as they need to be. With practical and emotional support and in house Mental Health services. To support them on their recovery after homelessness, to get back on their feet and eventually for them to move on to successful independent tenancies and lives. 

Renovating houses that have stood empty for a long time can be expensive. Your support will buy tools, pay for specialist tradespeople and building materials needed to make these houses into homes. The majority of the work will be done by LATCH staff and volunteers. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

By donating whatever you can, we will be a little bit closer to bringing an empty house in the heart of a community back into use as a home for someone in need. 

Thank you for your support!

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 3rd September 2025 at 10:02am