Logo

“When I first came to Crisis, it was like a big hug. And with their help, I got much better.” 

Please help us work 365 days a year – because homelessness doesn’t take a summer break 

Across Britain, homelessness is at an all-time high – rising for the third successive year. And while winter brings much-needed public attention and support, the crisis doesn’t stop when the weather warms.   

“I had nowhere to go. I stayed in Victoria Park, in a box under a tree. It was really hot, and people walked by, looking at me like I didn’t exist.”  
Abdul, former Crisis member

Last year, 4,667 people were sleeping rough in England, which is a 20% increase on the previous year. And summer doesn’t make this any easier – it just makes it easier to ignore. Without the visible hardship of freezing temperatures, people assume rough sleeping is less of a crisis. But the dangers don’t disappear. They change.  

In our One Eye Open report, one respondent who’d experienced rough sleeping revealed -

“In the winter, people feel bad for you. In summer, they think you should be fine. Like the heat means you’re not suffering”.  

At Crisis, we work 365 days a year because homelessness is not just a winter emergency. Thanks to your generosity, Abdul was able to get to a place where he is happy, through the year-round support he received at Crisis.  

Read more about Abdul’s story

How your support helps people out of homelessness, for as long as it takes

Abdul’s Strengths and Assets coach helped him to learn everything from managing bills to accessing Universal Credit. Together, they structured his finances, set up direct debits, and built a system to keep him on track.

The benefit system has a really important role to play in helping  people who are homeless find and hold onto jobs Across our services, we're supporting people to find work or access the benefits they might be entitled to, with specialist teams who connect people with employers, as well as help with CVs and interview practice. 

Abdul has shared how when he first came to Crisis it felt “like a big hug”. Thanks to your generosity, our services are available through the year, helping our members find a safe and stable home.

We offer new members initial needs assessments where we can talk through their situation and make a plan together. People can need a range of help from accessing benefits they're entitled to, to building their confidence and independence or taking a qualification that could help them find work.

With Crisis’ support, Abdul didn’t just find a home – he rebuilt his life. Through Crisis, he has joined art classes, accessed mental health support, joined a football club, and has even performed with the Royal London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Through group sessions and one-to-one therapy with clinical psychologists, your support helps members improve their mental and physical wellbeing. We work particularly closely with people experiencing complex mental health problems too, helping them get specialist support and accommodation as urgently as possible. 

Crisis support our members build the skills and confidence so they can sustain a home. Abdul didn’t know how to use a laptop or manage bills and fill out paperwork online, so he started by learning how to use a smartphone, checking emails, and reading an energy meter. Now he’s an active volunteer at one of our Crisis shops! 

All Crisis Members can access a vast array of courses and qualifications online - helping them take another critical step forwards. We also cover vocational skills, including retail and hospitality traineeships in our shops.

“Without Crisis, I’d probably still be on the street. They helped me get to a place where I am happy. I’ve got a garden with loads of plants everywhere, even a pineapple. I love gardening, I’m crazy about it. Crisis has been great and unbelievably kind.”
— Abdul, former Crisis member

 

Donate now

“Today, thanks to amazing supporters like you, Abdul is thriving.”

 

Read Abdul's full story

 

At 47, Abdul's life took a devastating turn when the breakdown of his marriage left him homeless. For nine months, he moved between parks, hostels, and underpasses, with no clear path forward—until a GP referred him to Crisis. There, he met Melissa, a Strengths and Assets Coach, whose role went far beyond housing support.

Melissa helped Abdul navigate everyday tasks that had become overwhelming—using a smartphone, managing bills, applying for Universal Credit, and reading an energy meter. Through one-on-one support, she supported Abdul to rebuild his confidence and skills, laying the foundation for a stable future.

Thanks to their work together, Abdul secured a home and began to reconnect with the things that brought him purpose. He joined art classes, started volunteering, and accessed mental health support to process the trauma of homelessness. Now, Abdul is thriving—managing his responsibilities independently and rebuilding his life with dignity.

“I had a lot of sadness inside me. I couldn’t talk; I was heartbroken. I didn’t trust anyone.  But slowly, at Crisis, I started feeling better.”  

Abdul, former Crisis member

 

We continue to face increasing demand for our support throughout the year. Your gift will help our team to support people experiencing homelessness to secure a home and rebuild their lives. Thank you.

Donate now

 

Contact the supporter helpline

Please contact our Supporter Care team if you have any questions about making a donation to Crisis. You can also contact them if you would like to change the way we communicate with you.

supporter.helpline@crisis.org.uk

08000 384838

;