Society of St James
Overview
About the Organization
The Society of St James (SSJ) is an established homelessness charity based in Southampton, Hampshire, England that exists to prevent, relieve and end homelessness. It began in 1972, originally providing a shelter for homeless men, and has since grown into a larger provider of accommodation with personalised support for people experiencing homelessness and complex needs. SSJ operates supported living services, recovery programmes and activities that help individuals rebuild stability in their lives.
As both a registered charity and a registered housing provider, SSJ delivers services rooted in the belief that safe housing and dignity are fundamental to enabling long-term positive change.
Services & Programs
Core Services:
- Supported Accommodation & Housing-Related Support: SSJ runs multiple housing services in Southampton, Portsmouth and across Hampshire for people affected by homelessness, including intensive support and longer-term tenancies.
- Southampton Floating Support: Assistance for people struggling to maintain tenancies or at risk of losing their home.
- Drug & Alcohol Recovery: Specialist programmes addressing substance misuse alongside housing support.
- Education, Health & Wellbeing Services: These focus on life skills, wellbeing and personal development to support recovery and independent living.
Employment & Skills Support:
- SSJ Academy: Offers meaningful activities, accredited courses, volunteering opportunities and pathways that can support confidence building and employability. Its Re-Connect programme connects service users with volunteering and work experience to develop skills that ease movement toward work when they are ready.
- Work Placements & Volunteer Opportunities: SSJ partners with local employers to offer placements that build real-world skills toward employment.
- Social Enterprises: Projects such as Jamie’s Computers and Café in the Park provide vocational opportunities and skills for service users.
SSJ also participates in community partnerships and day-services help hubs that provide practical support like food, showers, laundry facilities and access to benefit/housing advice.
Who They Support
SSJ supports adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including people with histories of substance misuse and mental health challenges — groups that often face significant barriers to employment and stability. The organisation’s services are person-centred and tailored to support individuals through complex circumstances and toward independent living.
Regional Coverage
Services are primarily offered in Hampshire, with a focus on Southampton and Portsmouth. SSJ works across these areas to deliver supported accommodation, outreach services and community programmes that mitigate homelessness and help people transition to greater stability.
Role in the Employment Landscape
SSJ is not a recruitment agency, but it plays a complementary role in the job-seekers support ecosystem by addressing foundational barriers to employment. By offering housing stability, wellbeing support, skills development, volunteering and work placements, SSJ helps individuals prepare for future training, education and paid work. Its SSJ Academy and enterprise opportunities are practical stepping stones toward employability for people emerging from hardship.
Summary
The Society of St James is a long-standing UK homelessness charity operating in Hampshire that provides supported housing and holistic support for people with complex needs. Through accommodation services, recovery support, educational initiatives and volunteering/work experience pathways, SSJ helps people rebuild confidence and skills that lay the groundwork for future employment and independence.