During the first lockdown, Univ handed over one of the buildings on the North Oxford site to Oxford City Council to provide somewhere safe for those displaying COVID symptoms and who had nowhere else safe to go to isolate. St Mungo’s managed the property, which was able to accommodate 12 people under COVID-19 restrictions.

Paul Leo, Executive Director of Housing at Oxford City Council, said, “We have been fortunate in Oxford not to have a significant number of Covid cases among the homeless population we have accommodated. However, having this property available to us meant that we were in a position to be able to manage such an event had it arisen. It also gave us an option to accommodate people who were at greater risk of Covid when we had to vacate another property at short notice.

“All organisations have been working through multiple challenges in relation to Covid, and so we are grateful that despite the difficulties we have all faced the spirit of partnership working has strengthened rather than diminished in this period.”

Huw Davies, Buildings & Maintenance Manager, commented, “It was good to know our empty buildings, by virtue of the nationwide lockdown, were being to put to a good use.”

In addition to this initiative, Angela Unsworth, Domestic Bursar, has been coordinating various other plans, including a hot meal delivery service for elderly and vulnerable people provided by Univ’s amazing kitchen staff.

Univ has also been involved in several initiatives as a member of the Steering Committee of the Oxford Homeless Movement. You can find out more about the charities we support on the Univ in the Community page.

Published: 13 November 2020

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