About us Our history Our history Our history Amicus Trust was born out of heart felt concern for homeless people, starting as a soup kitchen in 1974 to support vulnerable people in Bedford - today the organisation has grown to provide accommodation and support to ensure individuals have the opportunity to progress towards a life free from homelessness. They say life begins at 40 and in 2014 when it reached it's 40th birthday, Amicus Trust celebrated this milestone by opening it’s support to service users outside of Bedfordshire, with accommodation now in Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicester, Huntingdonshire and Cambridgeshire. Timeline of events 1970 Soup kitchen opens 1974 Bedford Cyrenians is established as a company to help homeless people find a place to live and achieve their potential 1974 Alexandra House is set up to provide accommodation and support for single homeless people in Bedford 1980 2 bedroom low level support unit is added for those ready for more independence 1987 The Bridge supported accommodation, housing 9 homeless young men opened 1988 Bedford Cyrenians is re-named to Bedford Housing Link 1994 Perkins House is established to support single homeless women between 16 – 25 2003 Bedford Housing Link moves into central Bedfordshire with the opening of a 17 bed project in Biggleswade 2003 Project 14 is established in Bedford to meet the demand of increased levels of homelessness in Bedford 2008 17 bed project is moved from Biggleswade to Sandy. 2008 The Stepping Stones Project providing education and employment support to vulnerable and homeless adults is established 2010 Re-named Bedfordshire Housing Link 2013 Trusteeship of Charlotte Beaty Almshouses Newport Pagnell (for residents 55+) is handed over to Bedfordshire Housing Link. 2014 Mental Health services added to client support. 2014 Pilot project of supported accommodation for homeless veterans is set up in Bedford. 2014 Bedfordshire Housing Link is renamed Amicus Trust 2014 Celebrates 40 years of support for single homeless people and vulnerable adults 2015 First veteran support project open (further then opened in each of the regions Amicus operates) 2017 Houses open in Northamptonshire, now covering Corby, Wellingborough and Northampton town 2018 First project in Huntingdonshire opens, growing to 8 houses 2018 Amicus establishes a mental health service dedicated to homeless veterans 2018 Mental health and basic skills pilot project opens in Northamptonshire 2016 Amicus establishes projects in Leicester 2018 Amicus launches accommodation projects in Buckinghamshire, growing to 3 houses in Aylesbury and 3 in Leighton Buzzard 2019 First Amicus rural project opens for veterans in Buckinghamshire, with plans for an allotment 2019 Amicus moves into Cambridgeshire with houses in St Neots, March and soon to open Peterborough (2020)