Pret to open homeless hostel in London

The coffee chain has partnered with the Methodist Church’s West London Mission (WLM) to set up the house at the charity’s existing community hub in Kennington, London.

It will offer accommodation for up to 13 people at a time, who will live there for 6-12 months while working in nearby Pret stores.

Pret says residents will pay £550 monthly rent to WLM, a figure decided upon after consultation with homeless charities, receive financial advice and help to develop literacy and computer skills.

They will eventually move in to a privately rented space, and the ambition is to help at least 20 ex-homeless people off the streets by the end of the year.

Pret has been employing homeless people through its Rising Stars programme for 11 years.

“We set up the Pret Foundation with the singular purpose of breaking the cycle of homelessness, and to do that, we believe that people need three things: food, employment and shelter,” says Pret CEO Clive Schlee.

“The opening of the Pret House at WLM St Luke’s is the next evolution in our efforts to help the ex-homeless live their lives independently. It’s been a five-year project in the making, and we’re hoping it will have a meaningful impact on our Rising Stars and the wider community.”