In this episode, Wendy Lewington, CEO of DENS, explains how local businesses can make a tangible difference in tackling hidden homelessness across Dacorum. She breaks down the operational realities of running a mid-sized charity like a business, navigating the cost of living crisis, and how business owners and private landlords can practically support vulnerable community members through regular giving, mediation, and consistent CSR initiatives.

Episode Chapters

[00:00:26] – Introducing Wendy Lewington and the core mission of DENS

[00:02:36] – The root causes of homelessness and breaking the cycle

[00:09:33] – Addressing hidden homelessness and the cost of living crisis

[00:13:20] – How DENS supports private landlords to prevent evictions

[00:14:01] – The financial and operational realities of running a charity

[00:26:55] – Concrete ways local businesses can support the community

Key Takeaways

• Set up a regular, monthly corporate donation to a local charity to provide them with the reliable baseline income they need for long-term strategic planning.
• If you operate as a private landlord, partner with charity mediation programs that provide 24/7 property support and direct benefit payments to reduce tenancy risks and prevent evictions.
• Incorporate simple charity support into your weekly business operations, such as adding high-need food bank items or cleaning supplies to your company's online grocery orders.

Guest Links:

Wendy Lewington on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/wendy-lewington-2162703b

DENS Website https://www.dens.org.uk/

DENS Castle Walk https://www.dens.org.uk/event/castle-walk/

Host Links:

Ben Baldwin LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/benbaldwinchuffed/

Chuffed Productions LinkedIn | https://chuffed.video/

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