Estimates suggest almost 230,000 people were experiencing the worst forms of homelessness – rough sleeping, sleeping in cars and sheds, stuck in hostels – across Britain in 2021. However, this World Homeless Day, homelessness is difficult to quantify.
And it is not always visible. ‘Hidden homelessness’, also known as sofa surfing, is virtually impossible to count. People staying on friends’ or relatives’ sofas, or in temporary accommdation, don’t always identify themselves as officially homeless either.
Yet earlier this year, Government figures showed homelessness had risen a further 11% in just three months. With over 74,000 households in England becoming homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless between January and March 2022.
“These figures are a stark and sad reminder of the high numbers of people our frontline teams are seeing day in, day out. I fear it’s only going to get worse, as the cost of living crisis continues and we head into Winter,” said Carolyn Wood, Oasis Community Housing’s Director of Programmes.
What is World Homeless Day?
World Homeless Day was launched as a response to homelessness from countries around the world. Its purpose is to focus attention on those experiencing homelessness and give communities the chance to get involved with awareness-raising opportunities.
What will we be doing?
At Oasis Housing Community Housing, we’re continuing to help more than 1,300 men, women and vulnerable families in homelessness crisis every year. We help people recover, cope and thrive in the face of severe personal, family and social adversity. We help people find a place they can belong; a home.
This World Homeless Day, please join us and others across the world in raising awareness of everyone who is still facing homelessness this winter:
- Praying for and recommitting ourselves to serving all those experiencing homelessness; to providing the poor wanderer with shelter, and in loosing the chains of injustice which cause and sustain homelessness in our society today
- Sharing our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter posts about the charity’s drop-in times and other homelessness services, using the hashtag #WorldHomelessDay
- Joining our community of supporters in making a donation or becoming a Cornerstone Giver, by giving with a monthly gift that would help us build the foundations of hope for thousands of people experiencing homelessness every year.