Jaimee Hendry, who leads Oasis Community Housing’s Southwark service for young people facing homelessness, has won this year’s ‘Woman of the Future’ award at the 2022 Women In Housing Awards.
The Women In Housing Awards recognise the sector’s trailblazers and leaders for the work they do, supporting and improving the lives of residents and colleagues alike. Commenting on receiving her award, Jaimee said:
“Obviously, I don’t do this work for the recognition, but I am truly grateful to have received this award – amidst such a strong shortlist of other inspiring women from the housing sector. Thank you.”
Jaimee joined Oasis Community Housing in 2017. Her leadership of our Southwark service has enabled the charity to reach five times more young people facing homelessness than when she started.
This significant growth has been fuelled by a ‘need’, but this has also meant Jaimee has had to manage this transition while coping with the complexities of service delivery during a pandemic.
Jaimee was part of the team who submitted a winning bid to deliver the local authority contract to support young men and women in 11 different sites across Southwark. Many of these new properties were in a state of disrepair and she has remained committed to turning these properties around and transforming them into homes to be proud of for the young people in her care. She has given countless hours, even giving up spare time on her weekends to paint walls and fix up rooms. Jaimee knows these properties well, as she had once been a resident in them.
Over the past year, Jaimee and her team of seven have worked tirelessly to manage the process and logistics – including physically helping the young women move – of decanting a 16-bed property in order to facilitate the renovation of the charity’s No.3 project.
With some young women affected by mental health issues, Jaimee ensured that they and every single resident continued to receive the vital support they usually would in-house throughout the eight weeks of renovation.
David Smith, Oasis Community Housing’s Chief Executive, said: “When Jaimee started working for the charity it quickly became apparent she has a unique passion for the young people living at the charity’s projects whose complex needs and challenging behaviours can shock new staff.
“Jaimee channels her own experiences to reach young people on their level and advocate to ensure they get the best outcomes possible. It is her personal commitment to the young people she supports that evidences her exceptional effort and achievement.
“Her determination is an inspiration and our young residents are fortunate to have such a driven advocate in Jaimee.”