4th January 2025, London — Depaul International and international investment business LetterOne, announce a new partnership to address one of the most significant challenges facing societies today: the eradication of global homelessness.
Homelessness is a human tragedy which affects one in five people on the planet and severely impacts every country in the world. The Depaul Group, together with its strategic partners, works across more than 70 countries to end homelessness and change the lives of those affected by it. As the first to provide such significant support for the Depaul Group’s bold new 6-year strategic ambition, LetterOne has become a pivotal partner in the global fight to end homelessness.
Homelessness profoundly affects individuals’ physical health, social connections, and overall quality of life. In addition to experiencing harsh living conditions, homelessness also takes a significant toll on individuals’ psychological well-being, contributing to high levels of stress, trauma, anxiety, and depression.
Despite its devastating impact on people and communities, homelessness is the most significant social issue without an international response. Noticeably absent from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, homelessness lacks appropriate international recognition and has little international coordination or collaboration.
LetterOne and the Depaul Group want to change this. The partnership has two key areas of focus:
A multi-country pilot of an emerging and innovative therapeutic approach – Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT is a form of psychotherapy that combines mindfulness strategies with acceptance and behavioural change techniques. Whilst hugely successful in other contexts, little evaluation has been conducted in homelessness services despite having the potential to be transformative. The new partnership means programmes using this innovative model will begin in Depaul services in the UK, USA, and Ireland.
A global advocacy strategy to elevate the issue of homelessness internationally, increasing recognition and driving change. Delivered by Depaul International and partners the Ruff Institute for Global Homelessness Global Homelessness and the Famvin Homeless Alliance, this will include advocacy efforts with multilateral institutions such as the United Nations to raise critical awareness of the importance of including homelessness within global development agendas.
Josh Hardie, Director Corporate Affairs, LetterOne said:
“LetterOne believes that long-term capital matched with an entrepreneurial mindset can be a powerful catalyst, finding innovative solutions to pressing economic and social problems. That’s why we are delighted to be partnering with the world-class teams at the Depaul Group to help tackle one of society’s most critical issues. As early impact-only investors in the Depaul Group’s ambitious new strategy, we look forward to working together to end homelessness for more people in more places and a future where everyone has the dignity and security of a place to call home.”
Matthew Carter OBE, Group CEO of Depaul International said:
“As levels of homelessness continue to rise globally, our new partnership with LetterOne comes at an incredibly vital time. Their invaluable support enables us to not only be innovative in the ways we support those who need it most, but to ensure their voices are heard, driving systemic change at the highest levels.”
