Caring for the Whole Person
Edge operates in line with the biblical principles that we are all created by God for a purpose and He has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives regardless of our past. We seek to offer practical help in an individual approach to each resident in the form of accommodation, sign posting, advice and contacts to help secure jobs and permanent accommodation alongside offering community and friendship.
Unconditional support
We believe everyone has hope and a future and our aim is to come alongside and support, enable and encourage the residents to fulfil this. We believe our support does not finish when a resident moves out whether positively or due to a termination or abandonment and will always try our best to continue offering support even if Edge Housing is not suitable for the resident.
Faith
All staff and volunteers are expected to operate according to the values expressed in this ethos statement we believe that vulnerable adults should neither be coerced in religious matters, nor excluded from the opportunities to explore the Christian faith that are available to others. We do this by sharing our stories and discussing their beliefs and invite them to come to a Church should they be interested. We believe no one is beyond being saved and entering into a relationship with Christ and gaining an understanding of His love and grace nor that it is our role to make judgement. We work towards replicating God’s love to the residents whether they accept Christ or not.
Edge Housing works within Oxford Community Church’s ethos which is available on request
Timeline and milestones
Edge is formed
Five people with the vision of supporting the housing and employment in Oxford for those in need start Edge.
We accept our first residents
We opened two church houses that were about to be rented on the private market and brought in 10 rough sleepers.
Our first permanent team member joins
We employed our first staff member for two days a week.
We expand our reach
We opened our third house and employed our second staff member.
2018
And expand our network
We opened our fourth and fifth houses.
We started working with Oxford Brookes placement students for both Social Work and Occupational Therapy.
And continue our support…
We opened our sixth and seventh houses.
We employed our third staff member.
..and scale with YOUR support
We aim to scale and open between one and two houses per year including our first dedicated women’s house.
We hope to continue to support the rising numbers of homeless people in Oxford and expand our network of supporters and organisations we work with.