A host of A-list celebrities, including Tom Hardy, Emma Thompson, Jodie Whittaker, Ellie Goulding, Richard Gere and Sir Ian McKellen, have joined national homelessness charity Crisis to call for an end to homelessness in Great Britain [see full list of celebrities below].

The call, which comes on World Homeless Day, is in the form of a poem written by Crisis’ Poet-in-Residence Stefan Gambrell a-k-a ‘Neanderthal Bard’, who has himself experienced homelessness. Alongside Stefan and two Crisis clients, the 20 stars appear in a film where they each deliver a line of ‘If Everybody Is In’, which calls for an end to homelessness [view film here].

The poem was written to highlight the severity of the issue across Britain, with 236,000 people currently experiencing the worst forms of homelessness – the highest level of since 2010.

The stars have all joined Everybody In, Crisis’ campaign to end homelessness, and are encouraging the public to sign up and email their local politician to ask them commit to ending homelessness. The charity hopes this will spur Britain’s governments to build on their recent positive steps in recognising homelessness as an urgent issue.

Earlier this year Crisis published its own ground-breaking plan to end homelessness, which sets out the exact government policies needed to end all forms of homelessness within a ten-year period. 

Alongside the poem, Crisis has created a joint statement that’s been signed and shared by homelessness experts, practitioners and activists from countries including the US, Canada, and Finland, who are leading highly successful movements to end homelessness in their countries.

Singer/songwriter Ellie Goulding said: “It has been an honour to stand alongside Stefan, Anthony, Adel and all the other artists involved, delivering this poem. I have worked with Crisis for several years and am resolute about the need to end homelessness in Britain.  How can we rest until everyone has a safe place to call home? I would encourage everyone to get behind this campaign and write a letter to their MP asking for their support. If everybody is in, we might finally be able to put an end to the injustice of homelessness”

Actor Emma Thompson said: “It’s been great working with Crisis to present this poem on World Homelessness Day. Whether people are sleeping out on the streets or are hidden away in dangerous temporary accommodation, it is shocking that there are still those without a stable roof over their heads. We know homelessness can be ended – but only if we rise up and stand together will we truly turn the tide on homelessness. Join the campaign now and write to your local MP because together, we can end homelessness.”

Crisis Chief Executive Jon Sparkes said: "It's amazing to see our members and this star-studded group of actors, musicians, and comedians join together to call to end homelessness in Britain. Their voices are part of a growing movement in countries around the world fighting for an end to this crisis once and for all. 

“In Britain alone, there are 236,000 people experiencing the worst forms of homelessness, leaving people in serious danger. Every day our frontline teams see how life without a home damages people's mental and physical health, their job prospects, and relationships with the people they hold most dear.

“Ending homelessness across Britain isn't an unrealistic aspiration; it’s a goal within our reach. We’ve set out how it can be achieved with the right action and political will, and we’re pleased that homelessness is being given greater priority by governments and parties across England, Scotland and Wales. But they have to tackle the root causes as well as the symptoms. We hope the public will join us to fight for an end to this crisis once and for all."

ENDS 

Notes to editors

POEM PERFORMERS

• Stefan Gambrell aka Neanderthal Bard
• Adel (Wales), Anthony (Scotland) (Crisis members who have experienced homelessness)
• Ellie Goulding
• Tom Hardy
• Jodie Whittaker
• Sir Ian McKellen
• Richard Gere
• Ruth Wilson                                                                                                               
• Imelda Staunton
• Emma Thompson                                                                                    
• Jonathan Pryce                                                                                        
• Joe Lycett   
• Aisling Bea
• David Morrissey                                                                      
• Jim Carter
• Shappi Korsandi                                                                                                       
• Ed Byrne                                                                                     
• Tamsin Greig
• Alastair Stewart       
• Clara Amfo                
• Sophie Thompson
• Al Doyle

World statement

Alongside the poem, Crisis has joined together with homelessness organisations from around the world to call for an end to homelessness. Alongside FENTSA, the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness and the American National Alliance to End Homelessness, we have released this joint statement:

“We all deserve a safe, stable place to live. But we’re not protecting this basic human need for millions of people around the world. It’s doesn’t need to be like this. Today on World

Homeless Day we stand together across the globe to call on governments to take action to end homelessness for good.

Crisis' definition of ending homelessness

Crisis' definition of homelessness ended consists of five categories:

• No one sleeping rough.
• No one forced to live in transient or dangerous accommodation such as tents, squats and non-residential buildings.
• No one living in emergency accommodation such as shelters and hostels without a plan for rapid rehousing into affordable, secure and decent accommodation.
• No one homeless because of leaving a state institution such as prison or the care system.
• Everyone at immediate risk of homelessness getting the help they need to prevent it happening

Number of people homeless statistic

There are currently 236,000 people across Britain who are defined as core homeless. This is taken from a study by Heriot-Watt University – Homelessness projections in Great Britain. This refers to the most acute forms of homelessness and covers people who are: rough sleeping; sleeping in tents, cars, or public transport; squatting; living in unsuitable temporary accommodation; living in hostels, night shelters, winter shelters, or refuges; and sofa-surfing on a short-term basis.