Beginnings '67–'79

See also

Crisis grows 1980 - 1989

Crisis from 1990 - 2005

Key events

1967
Crisis is founded in response to the shocking television documentary Cathy Come Home and a publicity campaign led by William Shearman and Ian MacLeod, then conservative Shadow Chancellor, highlighting the plight of London’s homeless. To support this campaign over 3,000 people gathered for a candlelit vigil in Hyde Park to demonstrate their support for homeless people.

Eve MacLeod, wife of Ian MacLeod, provides the name of the charity and becomes life President.

1969
A Canterbury to London reverse pilgrimage is held to raise awareness of homelessness, led by Archbishop Ramsay and Ian MacLeod. The pilgrimage becomes an annual event.

1971
Birth of the Crisis Open Christmas held at St Anne's, Westminster. A group of 20 volunteers provide shelter and food for homeless men and women over the Christmas week.

Aims and objectives for Crisis are set out by Chairman as follows:
Creating a bridge between people of different political and social groups
Projecting the plight of socially inadequate people at Christmas time
Raising funds as a material token of concern.

1972
A report is published showing that there are 13,500 people sleeping rough in Britain every night.

1973
Crisis becomes a registered charity.

1974
Nicholas Scott MP becomes Chair of Trustees.

1975
Independent surveys indicate that the number of single homeless people is increasing at a faster rate than at any time since the First World War.

1976
March of witness organised by Rev Malcolm Johnson from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park to Lambeth Palace to raise awareness of single homelessness in London.

1978
A Street is Not a Home, the first piece of chronicled research designed as an annual report in Crisis red and black is published and used to launch the Christmas campaign; it notes the increasing numbers of homeless women.

Crisis turns over £44,000, 28% of which comes from individual donations, 18% from churches and religious organisations and 10% from foundations and companies.

1979
Crisis launches a campaign against funding cuts for services for people with a dependency on alcohol