Rough sleeping

More and more people are sleeping rough. Living on the streets is dangerous. It causes health problems and affects people’s wellbeing.

What is rough sleeping?

Rough sleeping is one of the most visible types of homelessness. Rough sleeping includes sleeping outside or in places that aren't designed for people to live in, including cars, doorways and abandoned buildings.

We think that it is possible to end rough sleeping. All public services have their role to play in preventing people from ending up on the streets. This includes health services and the criminal justice system.

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Scale and impact

Our research into the scale and experience of rough sleeping including enforcement interventions.

3,069

Estimated number of people sleeping rough in 2022 on a single night in Autumn across England.

This was up by 26% from 2021.
(Source: Rough sleeping snapshot in England, Autumn 2022)

Crisis at Christmas

Every year we launch our Crisis at Christmas appeal, which supports those of us experiencing homelessness at Christmas.

With your support we mobilise vital services that provide food, warmth, clothing and companionship at what can be the hardest time of year for many, especially those your are forced to sleep rough.

 

Find out more

News

It is time to repeal the Vagrancy Act, yes. But if the answer was ever about whether to criminalise people, then we have been asking the wrong question. If we can see our way past labelling, grouping, dismissing, damning, pointlessly prosecuting and fining people, perhaps we can start answering the right question. What help and support do people need to realise their potential, and how quickly can we get it to everyone that needs it?


27/06/2019

To end homelessness, we need to understand and measure the true scale of the problem. Good data h...


31/01/2019

Shockingly, between 2012 and 2017, the numbers have soared by 120% in England and 63% in Wales. Numbers in Scotland fell by 6% over the same period.


14/12/2018

What you can do

Volunteer with Crisis

Through steaming clothes, to making Christmas special. In cheering on our runners and supporting our clients. You are part of ending homelessness, one journey at a time.


Volunteer with Crisis
Campaign

We campaign for the changes needed to end homelessness for good.


Campaign
 
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