St Mungo's (charity)
| Abbreviation | St Mungo's |
|---|---|
| Type | Registered charity |
| Purpose | Supporting homeless people |
| Headquarters | 3 Thomas More Square, Tower Hill, London E1W 1YW |
|
Region served
|
Southern England |
| Website | mungos.org |
The St Mungo Community Housing Association, working as St Mungo's, is a charity registered in England to help homeless people.
At the beginning St.Mungo's Community was a splinter group from The Simon Community which was started by a former probation officer Anton Wallich-Clifford and was unique among organisations for its success in alcoholic recoveries. This was essentially due to its controversial approach of allowing drinking actually on the premises. The lease for the East End shelter in Sclater street was ending and it was at a time when shortage of money drove the Simon Community into constant reorganisation. However, due to the good services of an M P James Allason, the chairman of the East End house managed to break through the almost impenetrable bureaucracy that surrounded the London County Council. Unaware that it was for a new charity they offered the short lease on a house in Home Road, Wandsworth, which was due to be demolished in two years time. It was unfortunate that once it was realised that St.Mungos was not yet even registered as a charity the young employee who completed the actual arrangement was sacked. Harry Stone had a choice of two people for the job of warden, one was the current warden of the closing Simon wet house the other a young ambitious worker at the Simon headquarters. The current warden was a reformed alcoholic and it was therefore felt he might not be able to withstand the considerable pressure he would almost certainly be under. So it was a fortunate gamble that Jim Horne was chosen. Jim was already acquainted with Geoffrey Fernyhough who had been managing director of the Green Line coaches and he agreed to become the new Chairman while Harry Stone became secretary. treasurer. and fund raiser. Jim ridiculed the suggestion the enterprise should be called The Home Road Hostel and pressed for the name St.Mungo’s. Being Scottish, he believed the powers of Glasgow Cathedral might be persuaded to make an ample donation if it was named after their patron saint. Unfortunately it proved to be a false hope. But otherwise Jim’s enthusiasm and ability drove St. Mungo to a sure start and onwards with ever increasing success. Among his early helpers was Graham Parr who in turn broke away to start up the original Vauxhall Broadway hostel. Due to the enlightened support of Wandsworth Council, even though they had never been officially informed of the occupation in Home Road, the Mayor opened the second house, which was also in Home Road.
It was not long before St. Mungos gained the interest of the Department of Health and Social Services and Jim inveigled the Head of the Department and even the Minister Sir Keith Joseph to spend an evening on the soup run. Even so it was a surprise when the department suddenly offered major financial support so that the Community could become an experimental embryo for further possible development. The amateur management had up to that time worked along unconventional lines. The Trustees had given Jim considerable licence over some of his machinations. So it had to be completely reorganised. Qualified accountants, medical practitioners and psychiatrists were appointed as additional trustees. Out of this it soon became clear that whenever either of the original Trustees held opposing views or questioned Jim’s dealings, the new Trustees, quite correctly, backed Jim since he had the responsibility for the daily running.
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