[2] MoH operates broadly across four main areas: building a national collection of homelessness for the UK;[3] direct and practical action in support of its community (including operating a Severe Weather Emergency Shelter);[4][5] independent research and campaigning (including the Dying Homeless Project[6] and Severe Weather Emergency publication[7]); and public eduction through exhibitions and events.
As well as securing agreement from the Community to use the archive in its programme in London, Matt and Jess Turtle formed a core group of volunteers who had experience of homelessness to meet to review and plan the museum's work.
[17] Important collaborations included teaming up with formerly homeless artist David Tovey to stage Man on Bench, a performance fashion show at Tate Modern.
[20] MoH is independent and does not take government contracts, developing close links with grassroots homelessness and housing groups such as the Outside Project and Streets Kitchen.
[21] In early 2019, the charity announced its intention to find a permanent museum space and in Spring 2019 was based at the Outside Project's community centre and shelter at Clerkenwell Fire Station.
[25] Before this, MoH also launched Catalyst, a creative campaigning project funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation[26] that brought many new people with experience of homelessness into the organisation.
[28] As lockdown in the UK began, MoH teamed up with Streets Kitchen, the Outside Project, Simon Community, and the Union Chapel to launch the COVID-19 Homeless Taskforce.
[31] After the taskforce was asked to hand the Centre back to Islington Council, it continued to operate in North London through its weekly Streetmuseum showcase on Highbury Corner.
[32] As of May 2024, MoH is permanently based at The Manor House Lodge in Finsbury Park, and during open season continues to share object stories from its collection.