This Christmas can be someone’s first day of life out of homelessness. Each year, Crisis at Christmas opens its doors to thousands of people experiencing homelessness. Find out more about the impact our Christmas appeal has and how you can get involved this year.
Since 1967, the Crisis at Christmas charity appeal has been supporting those of us experiencing homelessness at Christmas. Every year, with your help, we mobilise a unique volunteering effort to provide warmth, companionship, and vital services to people facing homelessness at one of the toughest times of the year.
Over that time we’ve learnt a lot about homelessness and how we can help end it. Our support over this period is not a temporary fix and the first day someone spends with us this Christmas isn’t the last. Our Christmas services work alongside the specialist support we provide all year, which includes helping people facing homelessness to find their own stable home, to access education and training.
This Christmas thousands of people experiencing homelessness will need support. Over 300,000 families and individuals across Great Britain are now experiencing the worst forms of homelessness. That includes rough sleeping, sofa surfing and staying in unsuitable temporary accommodation like B&Bs.
Since 2021, rough sleeping in England has increased by 91%.
This year we will again be providing hotel rooms across London for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough over Christmas. Combined with many more who will receive support through our day centres in the capital and frontline services across Britain, we will be supporting 5,500 people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
Your donations to the Crisis at Christmas charity appeal make this support possible.
This year, by donating to our Crisis at Christmas charity appeal, you could help someone start their first day of a life out of homelessness. Donate now to help provide food, care, housing advice and long-term support for people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
Volunteer with Crisis this Christmas and be there for someone as they start to build a life out of homelessness. Whether you’re the first person a guest meets when they walk through the door looking for support, or you provide a listening ear and companionship, you’ll be making a real difference to those experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
Christmas volunteering opportunities
Donations and volunteering, although crucial, are not the only ways to show your support for Crisis at Christmas and to help us in our work to end homelessness.
You can fundraise, with your friends, family or colleagues, or have a browse through our Crisis online shop and get your Christmas shopping sorted.
Find out what's going on in your area and how you can get involved in Crisis at Christmas this year, from volunteering opportunities to carol services - Christmas is well and truly here.
With the help of many generous supporters and over 3,500 dedicated volunteers, we provided hotel accommodation and support via our day centres in the capital and regional Skylights across Britain. Together, we provided warmth, a safe place to stay and specialist support to people experiencing homelessness during one of the toughest months of the year.
In 2024, our day centres supported over 1,450 people, helping them on their journeys out of homelessness. We also provided ongoing support and advice, health and wellbeing services, and food to over 3,700 people at our Skylight centres across England, Wales, and Scotland.
We provided hotel accommodation for more than 600 people who would otherwise have been sleeping rough. Giving people the safety and comfort of their own hotel room, alongside dedicated advice and support, is a transformative and dignified approach that can change lives. If you can, please help us to deliver our essential services again this year.
“I lost my mum – then I lost everything. I went from caring for my mum to not being able to care for myself. I was evicted and there was nothing I could do about it. Everything happened so fast, there was no time to get help. I was so lost… I’d just walk and walk all night. You’ve got to keep your wits about you all the time. Honestly, there were days I didn’t want to keep going. Crisis brought me back from the brink. Having a bed felt strange – I was used to concrete. That first haircut and shave made me feel like my old self. My flat isn’t much, but at the same time it’s everything.”— Simon's story is based on real experiences.
