Street Support Network

What Street Support Network does

Street Support Network is a UK-registered charity (Charity Number 1177546) that operates a digital coordination platform connecting people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with verified local support services across 29 UK locations covering England, Scotland, and Wales. The platform serves two free-of-charge audiences: end users (people experiencing homelessness, individuals wanting to help) and listing organisations (charities, voluntary groups, and public/private sector bodies providing homelessness services). At the core of the offering is an interactive service map powered by Google Maps, a service directory of 1,804 organisations and 6,219 services, and an IBM Watsonx-powered Virtual Assistant that asks users about their situation and recommends relevant local support in real time without storing personal data. Supporting modules include a Standards Toolkit (co-developed with Manchester Homelessness Partnership and the Coalition of Relief for best-practice certification), a Resources Library, and an admin dashboard at admin.streetsupport.net.

The underlying technology stack combines standard web infrastructure with selected third-party integrations: Google Analytics and Google Maps for traffic analysis and location discovery, IBM Watsonx for conversational AI, and Mailchimp for newsletter distribution. The organisation has documented a five-pillar AI governance framework (Fairness, Transparency, Explainability, Privacy, Robustness) and conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA accessibility standards. The core technical team consists of a Lead Developer, a freelance developer, and two designers, all described as contributing time to the charity.

The business model is donation- and grant-funded. All services are free for both end users and listing organisations. Income is sourced from donations from local philanthropists and friends, small grants, and business sponsorship. Distribution is digital-first through streetsupport.net, supplemented by local partnership coordinators in each active region (named leads in West Midlands, Luton, Nottingham, and Greater Manchester) and channel partners including Homeless Link and the Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network (GMHAN). As of July 2026, the platform reported 1,069,410 cumulative users, 2,915,609 views, and 100% uptime over the preceding 12 months.

Name

Street Support Network

Legal name

Street Support Network Ltd.

Website

https://streetsupport.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Street Support Network is a UK charity operating a free digital platform that connects people experiencing homelessness with 1,804 verified support organisations and 6,219 services across 29 UK locations, using an interactive map and an IBM Watsonx-powered Virtual Assistant.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homelessness Support Platform

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

Keywords

• Homelessness support services
• Digital charity platform
• Service directory network
• Community resource mapping
• Homelessness coordination platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations: Funded by donations from local philanthropists and friends. The charity accepts donations to support the ongoing development and growth of the network.
2. Grants: Small grants from various sources supporting the charity's mission to tackle homelessness through digital infrastructure.
3. Business Sponsorship: Sponsorship from businesses that share the vision of a society without homelessness. The organisation actively seeks business partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Street Support Network operates a free, web-based digital platform that connects people experiencing homelessness with local support services across 29+ UK locations. The platform combines an interactive Google Maps-powered service finder with an IBM Watsonx-powered Virtual Assistant that provides real-time, location-specific recommendations based on user responses. Supporting modules include the Network Dashboard for partner organisations, the Standards Toolkit with best practice certification, and a Resources Library, all designed to coordinate the homelessness support ecosystem.

Product overview

Street Support Network is a single unified digital platform that connects people experiencing homelessness with local support services across 29+ UK locations. The core offering consists of the main website platform with an interactive Find Help service finder (powered by Google Maps) and an IBM Watsonx-powered Virtual Assistant that provides real-time, personalised service recommendations. Supporting modules include the Standards Toolkit (best practice resources and certification for Manchester organisations), a Resources Library (practical guides for supporters), an admin dashboard for network management, and a Partnership Application Form for onboarding new organisations. The platform does not run frontline services but acts as a coordination and discovery layer, directing users to verified partner organisations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Street Support Network Platform Free online hub connecting people experiencing homelessness with local support services across 29+ UK locations, providing an interactive map and directory of partner organisations and services.
• Virtual Assistant IBM Watsonx-powered chatbot that asks users questions about their situation and provides real-time recommendations for local homelessness support services. Does not collect or store personal data and is reviewed monthly for accuracy and tone.
• Find Help Service finder tool allowing users to search for homelessness support services by location, category, and subcategory. Features an interactive map powered by Google Maps showing organisations and services nearby.
• Standards Toolkit Best practice guide and resource library for volunteer-led support services working with people experiencing homelessness in Manchester. Includes policy templates, training resources, and Silver/Gold Best Practice certification standards developed with Manchester Homelessness Partnership and the Coalition of Relief.
• Resources Library Library of practical guides and resources for individuals, businesses, and community groups supporting people experiencing homelessness, covering alternative giving, effective volunteering, homelessness charters, and street feeding.
• Network Dashboard Admin platform (admin.streetsupport.net) for managing organisation listings, service data, and network operations across the Street Support Network. Includes user guides for administrators, location managers, and data integrity volunteers.
• Partnership Application Form Online form for organisations to apply to join the Street Support Network partnership model. Collects organisation details, location information, and main contact data for review by the Managing Director.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,069,410 users served to date
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and foundational.

• Homeless LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomeless Link is a national charity working to end homelessness. Street Support Network collaborates with Homeless Link as part of their mission to tackle homelessness. Homeless Link is featured as a collaboration partner on the Street Support website.
• IBM WatsonxcoreTechnology or IntegrationIBM Watsonx powers the Street Support Network Virtual Assistant, providing AI-powered conversational capability to help users find relevant local support services. IBM follows strict security standards including encryption and UK GDPR compliance. The partnership includes comprehensive AI governance framework.
• GooglesupportingTechnology or IntegrationGoogle provides Google Analytics for website traffic analysis and Google Maps for the interactive 'Find Help' map functionality. Analytics cookies track general usage data to improve the site.
• MailchimpsupportingTechnology or IntegrationMailchimp handles email newsletter distribution for Street Support Network updates. Data is processed on secure servers in the United States under the UK Extension to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework.
• Manchester Homelessness PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStreet Support Network developed the Standards Toolkit in partnership with Manchester Homelessness Partnership and the Coalition of Relief. This best practice guide helps volunteer-led support services protect vulnerable adults, volunteers, and the public.
• Coalition of Relief (COR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCOR is a network of grassroots organisations providing sustainable long-term support for people experiencing homelessness in Manchester. Street Support hosts COR and coordinates their efforts. Member organisations include Barnabus, Coffee4Craig, Food4All, LifeShare, Reach Out to the Community, and Vow.
• Greater Manchester Homelessness Action Network (GMHAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGMHAN brings together people with personal insight into homelessness, frontline organisations, public sector and others to find more effective solutions. Street Support Network works with GMHAN to tackle homelessness across Greater Manchester boroughs.
• Doing Good Digital (Gary Dunstan)foundationalStrategic or Co-development PartnerGary Dunstan from Doing Good Digital partnered with co-founder Viv Slack to develop the original concept. Gary asked the key question that led to Street Support Network's founding: 'If you could do one thing to make the situation for people facing homelessness better, what would it be?'

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Citizens UK: UK community organising alliance that brings together local institutions to address social issues including homelessness. Comparable in the broader community-action and partnership-driven model of tackling social problems, though broader in mission than homelessness alone.
• Charity Digital: UK membership organisation supporting charities with digital skills, tools and technology advice. Comparable as an ecosystem enabler that helps small charities (like Street Support) build digital capability, though not operating in the homelessness services space itself.

Broad incumbents

• Shelter UK: Large UK housing and homelessness charity providing advice, legal services and campaigns. Overlapping mission on housing-related homelessness and operates a national advice service, but operates at much larger scale and with a broader housing (not just homelessness) remit.
• Crisis UK: Major UK homelessness charity running Skylight centres, education, training and housing services. Comparable as a frontline homelessness service provider whose Skylight network is referenced by Street Support's own West Midlands coordinator; structurally much larger and not technology-led.
• St Mungo's: Large UK charity providing housing, health and recovery services for people experiencing homelessness and rough sleeping. Comparable as a major multi-region service provider in Street Support's directory, though operating at substantially greater scale.
• Centrepoint: UK charity focused specifically on youth homelessness, providing housing, health and education services. Comparable as a service provider operating in the same end-user space, though narrower on age and not a digital directory platform.

Direct peers

• Depaul UK: UK charity supporting people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage through housing, education and training services across multiple regions. Comparable as a multi-location service provider that Street Support helps users discover on its platform.
• Homeless Link: The national umbrella charity for homelessness in England, operating its own directory of services and workforce/training programmes. Directly comparable as the closest national-level peer that Street Support explicitly partners with, and which could potentially build competing infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Beam: Tech-enabled UK charity using digital tools and crowdfunding to support individuals experiencing homelessness into training, employment and housing. Comparable as a digitally-led, technology-forward homelessness organisation with a different but adjacent operating model.

Regional players

• Glass Door: UK homelessness charity providing emergency accommodation and support services, primarily in London and surrounding areas. Comparable as a service provider whose listings and volunteer coordination model mirror those indexed by Street Support, but geographically focused.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/streetsupportuk
• Facebookfacebook.com/streetsupport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/street-support

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Street Support Network