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2023/24 Annual ReportWelcome to our 2023-24 annual report.
The high cost of living is driving more people into homelessness – and the worsening housing crisis across Britain has made our work on the frontline particularly difficult. But this year also saw Crisis develop solutions to address these problems head on. Alongside delivering vital services to people experiencing homelessness, we’ve laid the foundations for improved access to, and direct provision of, affordable housing for our members. And we’ve continued to campaign for the changes needed to end homelessness once and for all.
This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our donors, volunteers, campaigners, and partners.
Thank you. Together we will end homelessness.
Matt Downie, CEO
Dame Tristia Harrison, Chair of the Board of Trustees
6600
people supported over Christmas
5321
people received intensive one-to-one support to help end their homelessness
4355
volunteers generously supported us during Christmas, in our shops, our services and more
10320
people supported with support and advice to prevent their homelessness
28000
actions taken by Crisis campaigners urging political parties to prioritise ending homelessness
3377
people provided with support from our partners at Pathway
36
people were awarded £75,492 in grants to start new businesses and pursue their career goals
After her marriage broke down Zahra and her children were forced into homelessness and the council placed them in a hotel room infested with cockroaches and bedbugs. There was nowhere to cook or store food and nowhere for her older children to study for their exams. The lack of privacy and space was particularly challenging for Zahra’s young son with autism.
“My son has autism, and we were all in one room. My daughter got bit on her face and that really upset me… she had to go to school the next morning,” says Zahra.
Six months later, they were still there, with no timeline from the council for moving into a home. That’s when Zahra contacted Crisis Skylight Birmingham. She was matched with her lead worker, Sophie – the right professional for Zahra’s situation.
“You don’t get a timeline or any sense of what’s going to happen next,” says Zahra.
“I contacted Crisis because I was feeling lost and extremely frustrated. My experience made me realise how little support there is for people.”
With Sophie’s support, Zahra made progress with the council, who helped her access a safe and stable home and healthcare, which improved her wellbeing. Most importantly, she was able to move out of the hotel and into a home with her children.
“Having a marital breakdown was already quite difficult,” says Zahra.
“Sophie worked like an advocate. She sent emails to the temporary housing officer who I was contacting. The support that Crisis offers is very good. It’s not just help with housing, they also support you with education, wellbeing and your health. I’ve just moved into rented accommodation. As a Muslim woman, having our own bathroom again has been particularly important. It was so difficult to have any personal space while living in the hotel.”
We know that when we work together, we can successfully campaign for the changes needed to end homelessness for good.
We continue to work with new and existing partners to improve the private rental sector for people experiencing homelessness, helping them to secure safe and stable homes.
This year we worked with 4,355 volunteers who generously supported us during Christmas, in our shops, our services and more.
In July 2024 Crisis launched our new 10-year strategy. It sets out a bold vision for how we’ll achieve the beginning of the end of homelessness.
Our strategy is about thinking bigger, doing things differently and working together so that in ten years’ time, numbers will be going down, and the end of homelessness is in sight.
Our strategy was co-produced with our Experts by Experience (people with lived experience of homelessness). Their insight has shaped our vision and solutions. Because of this, we’re confident what we’ve set out is realistic and achievable.
This is how we’ll achieve the beginning of the end of homelessness:
