Crisis opens its services to people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this Christmas

Crisis, the national homelessness charity, has today opened its Christmas 2022 services, starting with three hotels across London that will accommodate at least 450 people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this Christmas time.*

The charity will also open four day centres in the capital for up to 4,800 people in insecure living situations across a four-day period.

Outside of London, Crisis will be supporting approximately 2,000 people experiencing homelessness through their frontline services across Britain.

The charity expects to see high demand as the cost of living crisis pushes more people into poverty, after publishing new research exposing the stark reality of how crippling mortgage rates, unaffordable rents and high food costs are leaving many people simply unable to make ends meet this winter.

Crisis’ analysis shows that the poorest 10% of single households are spending, on average, 149% of their monthly post-tax income on rent, energy and food. With just the basic costs of living now pushing people beyond the brink into unsustainable debt, the charity is warning that thousands more people could be made homeless – and many forced onto the streets.

Crisis estimates that next year 300,000 households could be pushed into homelessness – making its services at Christmas and through the rest of the year more vital than ever.

As well as their own warm, secure room, companionship and three hot meals a day, guests at the hotels will be given their own case worker from Crisis’ year-round services who provide one-to-one support and build a plan for moving out of homelessness that starts at Christmas but will continue for as long as it takes afterwards.

The charity is hoping to build on its success from last year, when 75% of the people supported via its hotel services didn’t return to the streets thanks to the specialist support they received.

Matt Downie, Crisis’ Chief Executive, said: “Sadly we’re gearing up for a very busy Christmas, but I’m glad that we can once again support thousands of people facing homelessness during the festive period. By providing people sleeping rough with a safe place to stay and an access point to our year-round support, we know people can start to rebuild their lives away from homelessness.

“Our frontline teams will also be working hard across Great Britain to ensure Crisis clients receive food parcels, gift packs and health and wellbeing support, including haircuts and access to opticians.

“We’re immensely grateful to everyone who has donated their hard-earned money and precious time to Crisis during these difficult times. Without you, we simply wouldn’t be able to support people, at Christmas, and throughout the year.

“As we mark the festive season, we also must reflect on the situation in Britain today in which 300,000 households could be forced into homelessness in 2023. With our new research demonstrating that many people are unable to afford basic living costs, it begs the question – how are we, as a society, still standing by while countless people are finding themselves pushed beyond the brink?

“As we enter the new year, the UK Government must commit to investing in housing benefit so it covers the true cost of rents and confirm it will build the social homes we need. Only action like this will bring us closer to ending homelessness for good.”