Make History this World Homeless Day
World Homeless Day is marked every year on 10 October to draw attention to the needs of people experiencing homelessness. 10 October is also World Mental Health Day. This shared date offers an important opportunity to talk about how these issues are related.
Poor mental health can be both a cause and a result of homelessness. Without a safe, decent and genuinely affordable home, our mental health can suffer. But poor mental health can also be one of the pressures that builds up and pushes us into homelessness in the first place. The housing and homelessness crisis is also a mental health crisis.
But things can and must change. With the right policies, systems and support in place, we can simultaneously improve people’s mental health and end homelessness for good.
World Homeless Day was first held on 10th October, 2010. The idea of World Homeless Day started as part of an online discussion, where people from all over the world came together to talk about how they were responding to homelessness.
Anyone, anywhere can use the idea of World Homeless Day to start a conversation about homelessness where they are.
This World Homeless Day you can make history by taking part in our Make History campaign, which is calling on the UK Government and leading political parties to commit to a national mission to end all forms of homelessness.
Homelessness is rising. Soaring bills, rising rents, and a sheer lack of affordable housing are making it harder for us all to have a safe, secure and affordable home. We know the devastating impact homelessness has not only on individuals and families but our society as a whole. It’s unacceptable.
But we have a plan to tackle it. We know that when we come together we can make history and build a future free from homelessness.
If you work with young people, or you want to have a conversation about homelessness and how to end it with young people in your life you can use our videos and activities to get started.
To help you choose which activity is best suited to your needs we've included an age group recommendation and the approximate time it will take to complete.
There are plenty of ways you can mark World Homeless Day and make a difference this year, especially as we prepare for Crisis at Christmas.
