St Basils is a Birmingham-based charity and registered housing association supporting young people aged 16–25 who are homeless, vulnerable or at risk of homelessness.17 It was founded in 1972 by the Reverend Les Milner, opening in St Basil’s church in Digbeth, Birmingham.710
The organisation combines homelessness prevention with supported accommodation, education, training, employment support and youth engagement.1 Its stated approach looks beyond immediate housing needs, aiming to help young people build the confidence, skills and resilience to find and keep a home and develop their future opportunities.41
St Basils operates across the West Midlands, with services in Birmingham, Coventry, Evesham, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.1 The organisation reports operating more than 40 sites and providing over 500 units of accommodation per night.1 Its work also includes multi-agency Youth Hubs: it manages Birmingham’s hub, which brings together services including Birmingham City Council’s Children’s Services and Housing department, and was commissioned to manage a hub in Solihull in 2017.1
St Basils describes its model as an integrated pathway linking prevention, accommodation and support, and routes into education, training and work.1 It also contributes to national policy and systemic change on youth homelessness.1 Its registered office is in Deritend, Birmingham.78