Project Details

General Information

ProxyAddress uses duplicated addresses to connect those facing homelessness with support.
An address is no longer just a location - it's now a de facto means of identification. This means that if a person becomes homeless, they are immediately cut off from the basic services they need to recover. The ability to apply for jobs, receive benefits, open a bank account, receive post: all are placed out of reach at the point they are needed most. Those who might have otherwise got back on their feet with a little early support are instead left to become entrenched in the situation and develop more complex and care-intensive needs over time.
ProxyAddress provides a stable address throughout this period of instability. Using existing data, we create and provide a consistent 'proxy' address that can be borrowed and used to access services regardless of location or how often the person moves. The service is secure and private, removing the stigma of vulnerability to the user, protecting the original property, and complying with anti-fraud laws to ensure the safety of users and partners alike.

Creative Solution (Creativity/Innovation)

ProxyAddress uses existing, unused addresses to provide homeless individuals with the stability needed to access vital services. This approach leverages technology to match vacant property addresses with those in need, ensuring privacy and security. As one victim of domestic abuse described it: 'like a VPN for the real world’. By collaborating with councils, businesses, and charities, ProxyAddress creates a sustainable system that addresses the root causes of homelessness and social exclusion. The service's innovative use of existing resources minimizes environmental impact and maximizes social benefits, offering a scalable and efficient way to support vulnerable populations and promote long-term societal change.

Social Impact (Inspiration/Impact)

In ProxyAddress' first pilot, we co-designed the service with those experiencing homelessness and collaborated with local and international partners including Barclays, Mastercard, and Crisis. The pilot was also overseen by the UK's financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, to confirm compliance with anti-fraud laws.
This pilot saw 96% of those participating escape homelessness within six months - which Hannah Fearn of Inside Housing described as "'results the likes of which I've never seen in 2 decades reporting on housing"'. This also saved the public budget an estimated £2.13 million. ProxyAddress was named one of TIME Magazine's Best Inventions of 2021.

Participation/Cooperation

ProxyAddress was developed through extensive collaboration with a diverse range of stakeholders. Key partners included local authorities, credit reference agencies, policy makers, front-line emergency workers, banking regulators, mapping companies, national charities, and international financial institutions like Barclays and Monzo. Support was also found from institutional partners such as the Design Museum, Arts Council England, the Royal Society of Arts, and Ordnance Survey. Most importantly, extensive interviews were held with over 300 individuals experiencing various forms of homelessness from across the United Kingdom, each bringing their own particular storiesy and experiences to inform and steer the development of the ProxyAddress service.

Vision for the Future

In the interests of maximising its reach, the design of ProxyAddress has prioritised the ability to adapt to a variety of circumstances as it scales. Only by doing this can we earn the trust of those who need our service. As such, it provides a simple end user experience to those facing vulnerability and hardship, while implementing a complex and dynamic system of legal and operational compliance which can be applied across multiple jurisdictions to address these universal issues of homelessness and social exclusion. ProxyAddress has been invited to implement its service in multiple countries and aims to scale globally.