World Homeless Day 2021

We’ve all at some point in our lives have walked past someone experiencing homelessness on the streets. In England alone there’s an estimate of over 280,000 people experiencing homelessness according to Shelter, which is 1 in every 200 people. This statistic is not only for rough sleepers but also includes other less visible forms of homelessness such as the hidden homeless (ie. sofa surfers), statutory homeless and those in temporary accommodation.

Today is all about making an effort to understand homelessness better as well as why people start experiencing homelessness to begin with. There are so many reasons why people end up homeless. To name a few, it can be due to relationship instabilities, domestic violence, substance misuse, alcohol addiction and mental health problems. More systematic causes include lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment. Especially throughout the pandemic, we have learned the struggles of having to survive through difficult times. When you take a moment to think about how easy it is to fall into homelessness without the right support network, it becomes clear as to why every little contribution can make a big impact on someone’s life.

Here are a few things you can do to help: 

As Crisis has correctly mentioned, homelessness is preventable and can be ended. Let's work together to break the stigma against people experiencing homelessness and lend a helping hand.