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"I hope to keep my home and not just exist but to get on in life. I’m going to need full-time work so I hope to receive adequate training and find a job that I’m happy in. So that I can live an independent life; provide for myself and my son." John
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"The Vagrancy Act didn’t help me at all. I was already on the streets, and then they fined me. You just felt like a statistic."
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'I was first arrested for the Vagrancy Act in 2008. I just asked someone for 20p so I could use the phone. Two police saw it and arrested me on the spot for begging. I spent the night in the cells and was in court the next morning.'
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'When I was a police officer I liked helping people. We had more discretion back then to support people on the street. Now people are far too quick to criminalise them.'
Read Chris's story now
'My father and grandfather were both master shoemakers too, and now I’m the last in the line. When Jimmy Choo first set up his business he asked me to come to London to help him, and we worked together for over 10 years. I made more than twenty pair of shoes for Diana, Princess of Wales, and for all kinds of celebrities like Kylie, Prince, Lady Gaga, and Royalty from all over Europe.'
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'My husband and I split up in 2014 after he was arrested for beating me up badly. I was only working part time and had nowhere to stay at the time other than sofa surfing with a friend or sometimes with my mum,'
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'I have been sofa surfing with friends for four months while bidding on council properties. But since the lockdown I have been unable to view any of them.'
Read Ellen's story. now
'I don’t have any family support so it’s very lonely at the moment. If I didn't have Crisis' help, I don't know where I would have been.'
Read Jennifer's story. now
'Lockdown, self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine are possibly the worst words a person like myself could hear. I spend every day volunteering with various charities so that I can have a sense of purpose but also so that I can escape my reality as an asylum seeker who is not allowed to work living on £5.39 pence a day.'
Read Sam's story now
'It was a surprise to me the way it all happened, when I became homeless. I lost my job in 2015 after a period of ill-health and had to apply for welfare benefits. I had been staying in a private rental since 2012 and in late 2018, the landlord decided to sell the flat and gave me two months’ notice.'
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'I grew up with my mum and dad in a 3-bedroomed council property, but after my mum died in 2012 my dad ended up being housed in a one-bedroomed flat. I’d moved out of home only 2 months before, and after that I was constantly moving around, mainly working in care homes, but my health declined as I developed arthritis and fibromyalgia, and by 2017 I wasn’t able to work anymore. I got into debt and eventually had to move out of where I was living.'
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'While at school, I did well at athletics and I was in the under-18 Scottish athletics team. I had also signed up for military training. However, I fell off a horse when I was 17 and this was the end of that career choice and the beginning of my health problems.'
Read Carol's story. now
Yusuf first became homeless as a child when his mum lost her business. The family was moved between hostels, B&Bs and other unsuitable accommodation, never settling.
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"Honestly the attention given to me, and people’s time, and the atmosphere, it’s invaluable. People’s self-esteem is built up when things like this take place."
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“If you don’t get help, you escape from what’s going on inside you. That’s what I did, and I left to move to another city with a lot of sadness. My alcohol addiction escalated. I went to a really bad place.”
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"I felt sad. I felt like was there any point in me coming here [the council]? To give a booklet out and tell us that, and say that you’re not priority because you haven’t had experience with violence?"
Read Claire's story now
“It seems from my point of view that they’re trying to discourage you to go on the housing list. They will just give you reasons not go on the list.”
Read Pawl's story now
“...mentally it just ruins you. It’s horrible. I won’t want to wish it up on anyone."
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"My mental health was so bad, I wasn’t able to speak. I was crying all the time, I was so depressed."
Read Denise's story now
"I had no phone, no one to call, and nowhere to stay. I was worried about being on the streets. With coronavirus out there, I was even more anxious knowing my lung condition made me more exposed.”
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“I felt like I had been failed by so many services - I felt utterly judged and let down by my GP. My Crisis coach helped me focus on what is practical and can be done and find strength and skills within me."
Read Em's story now
“I have now managed to find work as a carer. Although it’s only three days a week it’s enough for me to pay for food while I am waiting for the council to find me somewhere to live.”
Read Henry's story now
“Just to have a bed and a shower, it’s given me a bit of my life back. Crisis have been brilliant. They’ve given me my confidence back. My mental health has improved and I don’t feel as anxious and panicky. It’s given me a real boost. Now that I’ve got a stable place to live, I’m 100 times better.”
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Richard turned to exempt accommodation when he had nowhere else to go. But he didn't feel safe there, and there was no support at all.
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“That consistent point of contact is something that myself and a lot of other Crisis members I've spoken to find absolutely crucial because we're facing a world and a system and a society that has pushed you right to the edge."
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Hannah has lived in accommodation managed by two different supported housing providers and had mixed experiences.
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“I’m glad I got Crisis’ number because if I was on the street now, maybe I would have died because of my condition.”
Read Eddie’s story now
"I came to the hotel in December and stayed for a month... It made a big difference to my life. I was not worried about what might happen. I felt safe in the hotel and that I would be OK.”
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“I went back, freshly showered and without my heavy backpack, and I felt different. I didn’t feel scared anymore. All that pressure, all that weight was gone. And now I can focus on my next steps.”
Read Andrei’s story now
”Where I have got myself out of homelessness, I want to help people that aren’t able to do that; to give them the support I never had.''
Read Andrea's story now
“I’ve noticed that some members don’t want to leave, because Crisis becomes their family. There are people who listen to you, care, and want to help you. Crisis really put me on my feet. So, it feels good to be able to give something back to other members.”
Read Andrew's story now
King is an asylum seeker who lives in Newcastle. She was referred to Crisis by other organisations who have supported her and has been working with her lead worker, Emma.
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”I just want stability, do you know what I mean? I don't want to be moving around every five minutes. We didn't know where we were going to end up." Andrea has been renting her property since 2019 but during that time has experienced terrible conditions and been issued with two Section 21 eviction notices.
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“I was first helped by Crisis about 17 years ago. I was rough sleeping at the time. They got me into a hostel. From there I moved into a room in a house, and then about a year later, I started fundraising.”
Read George's story now
'After losing everything and finding myself with nowhere to live, I decided to volunteer at Crisis. The first job I ever did on shift was to help serve breakfast. Since then, I’ve become passionate about doing anything I can to help Crisis. Leaving a gift in my Will is just one of those things.'
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“I can just finally sit down and nobody can kick me out. I’m on my own, I’ve got my own space. I can go in the shower, come out and not have to worry."
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"Coming to Crisis has changed my life. Imagine my journey from being homeless with health issues and no future to having my life back. I am only thankful."
Read Attila's story now
"I spent Christmas Day in the hotel with other Crisis guests. We had Christmas food, including my favourite - mince pies and custard. There was karaoke, bingo - I even got my nails done. I felt like a human again."
Read Michelle's story now
"Kaitlyn, my lead worker told me about a wellbeing day at the Skylight Centre in Newcastle. The camaraderie was great. Everyone was lovely. I had a haircut, a massage – a mince pie!"
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"I’m so happy that I have a home now with my son. I have the time to do things I enjoy, like crochet and sewing. My mum can visit too. Last year, I made her Christmas dinner – pizza, lasagne, ice cream. We felt like a family again."
Read Saleeha's story now
“I met Kat, one of the tutors at Crisis and Jeremy, who became my lead worker. Kat changed my life. She also referred me to Cherelle my psychologist at Crisis.’’
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“A home is very important in life. If a person has a home, you can do everything. You can study, think positively."
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"I hope to keep my home and not just exist but to get on in life. I’m going to need full-time work so I hope to receive adequate training and find a job that I’m happy in. So that I can live an independent life; provide for myself and my son." John
Read John Merseyside now
“I'm building a future for my son. I'm determined he doesn't experience what I have"
Read Pete's story now
“I enjoy crafts and art and all that sort of thing. It was nice to be in a different environment. It took my mind off things that were going on at the property I was in, which wasn't being properly maintained by the landlord. I felt safe in this environment - I was able to meet new people and get the help I needed.”
Read Caroline's story now
At one point in his life, he was forced to sleep in a tent - even though he was working. When he lost his job, he moved into a local hostel temporarily before his Lead Worker (Will) at Crisis found him a vacant room.
Read Algimantas' story now