When you’re facing homelessness, carrying everything you own isn’t just inconvenient – it can be exhausting, painful and unsafe. Without somewhere secure to keep your belongings, it’s difficult to attend appointments, hold down work, stay healthy, or simply exist without fear of losing all your property. 

That’s why Islington Council is proud to fund Street Storage, based in the Cally. The charity offers free, safe and dry storage for people experiencing homelessness – the only specialist service of its kind in the UK.  

The council’s funding came from Caledonian ward councillors, and the Borough of Sanctuary grants programme. A panel of refugees and migrants selected the charity because they “saw the need and would have used it themselves”. 

Street Storage is transforming lives in ways that traditional homelessness services cannot always reach. 

A service created by necessity

Rachel, founder of Street Storage, has worked in homelessness services in Islington for 15 years. She noticed the same problem arise: people had nowhere to store things safely. 

“Every job I worked on, someone mentioned storage as an issue,” she explains. “It was holding people back and deepening stigma.” 

“There were ad hoc solutions,” Rachel says, “but nothing formalised. I would only have founded a charity if there was absolute need, and there really was. Most people haven’t considered storage as an issue for those made homeless, but everyone living on the streets understands the need.” 

More than a storage unit

Street Storage’s values – respect, adaptability and voice – shape every part of the service.

As Marketing Lead Lil puts it: 

“Residents didn’t want it to just be a storage unit. We’ve created a space where there are interactions, where there’s respect. We have chill spaces and an open office where people can rest and charge their phones. We provide conversation and a cup of tea.” 

Many people who use the service become part of the community: helping to clean, arranging furniture, joining in daily chat. 

Immediate help

Referrals are simple, with an appointment usually available the same day. 

People can be referred several ways including through a support worker, food bank, prison service, or they can even refer themselves. On arrival, each item is checked in, photographed and logged. People can store two to three bags, and staff provide help with transport when someone moves into new accommodation. 

One service user shared: 

“Thank you for everything […] it would have been really complicated with my back and health problems to carry all that around every day.” 

Another told the team: 

“Off the back of free storage and other support, I’ve been able to get back into full time work, got a room in South London and got my life back on track.” 

Service users are extremely varied. Some store clothes for job interviews, such as a chef who stored their whites safe for shift work. One student stored their bags, meaning they could attend lectures without carrying all their property with them, allowing them to make friends. Another stored an urn containing a family member’s ashes – something priceless they feared losing. 

Street Storage offers one-to-one advocacy, and signposting to specialist services. Their impact also involves small, everyday moments of human connection. 

“I love being able to directly speak to people and see the impact it’s having,” Lil says. “Just having a laugh with someone. This openness – it’s phenomenal.” 

How residents can support Street Storage

• Donate essential items via Give Today 

• Fundraise through events or connecting the team with your employer 

• Spread the word about the service 

Visit their website to learn more and get involved.