Preventing
homelessness.
Transforming
lives.
THE STORY OF NEW HOPE
Founded in 1990, New Hope (then known as Watford New Hope Trust) began with the compassion and determination of two extraordinary women who described themselves simply as “ordinary housewives”.
After seeing people sleeping rough around St Mary’s Church in the heart of Watford, Janet Hosier and Sheila Meaning (pictured) decided they could not stand by and do nothing. Their remarkable journey is told in Entertaining Angels, available to buy here or in any of our shops.
New Hope officially launched on 23 March 1990 at “the coaches”: two old coaches transformed into makeshift soup kitchens on the site of a former banana warehouse in Whippendell Road, now home to the Haven.
Equipped with little more than a counter, a hob and a few benches, the coaches quickly became a lifeline for people facing homelessness. Volunteers served hot soup, sandwiches and drinks, but just as importantly they offered kindness, friendship and someone willing to listen.
That same spirit still drives us today.
Over the years, New Hope has grown into a leading local charity supporting people experiencing homelessness and hardship across the community.
Our intervention services reach out to people sleeping rough through outreach and drop-in support, helping build trust and providing practical help when it is needed most. Our recovery services now include emergency accommodation for 25 people alongside 10 spaces dedicated to longer-term recovery support.
Prevention is also at the heart of what we do. Through our Tenancy Sustainment Team and HopeHomes, we help people rebuild their independence and secure affordable housing, offering low-cost rented rooms in supportive homes for those recovering from homelessness.
While much has changed since those early days in the coaches, our heart has remained the same. New Hope is still a proudly local charity, powered by the generosity of volunteers, supporters and the wider community. Together, we continue to offer hope, dignity and the chance of a brighter future.
If you would like to become part of the New Hope story, take a look at our Fundraising, Donate and Volunteering sections.