A chronic shortage of affordable housing. Soaring rents. Stagnant wages. Discrimination. Cuts to essential welfare support. Across the UK, people are being pushed into homelessness by a system that no longer functions.
People are being unfairly shut out of support systems simply because they don’t have savings, ID or a guarantor. They’re forced to navigate long waiting lists, rigid criteria, and landlords who won’t accept them. So even when a home is available, the hurdles are often too high to clear. This isn’t just difficult – it's deeply unjust.
Source: Crisis analysis of data from the Ministry of Housing.
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When Massimo’s mother passed away, he struggled to cope which led to addiction, and rough sleeping. By the time he came to Crisis, he was in recovery – ready to rebuild, but still locked out of everything he needed to move forward.
“No ID means no job. No job means no income. No income means no home. No home means no bank account. And round it goes – a system that locks people out at every turn.”
A few friends let him stay for short spells, but sofa surfing offered no stability. Then he found a room in a shared house – but it was dangerous.
“I was attacked. I lost my teeth. I was scared every day. I don’t know how I found the strength to walk into Crisis. And then I met Fiona (my Lead Worker). She was the first person who truly listened. She understood my desperation. She gave me hope.”
First, his Lead Worker helped him to apply for new ID. Then we worked to find a landlord prepared to house someone who didn’t have a guarantor. We made sure the flat was safe and of a good standard, and then supported him with the rent deposit.
“I knew I had people on my side who cared and were helping me keep the home, not just get it.”
Fiona also helped Massimo re-enter the world of work, encouraging him to volunteer to rebuild his confidence, and train with Change Please – a social enterprise that helps people experiencing homelessness, primarily through barista training.
“You feel like you’re part of something again. It gave me purpose. It gave me people.”
Today, Massimo lives in a bright room in east London, surrounded by community. His story is a powerful reminder of what home should be – safe, supportive, permanent.
We are the national charity for people facing homelessness. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it.
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