This Christmas, you can give someone the safety, support and belief to build a life beyond homelessness. Each year, Crisis at Christmas opens its doors to thousands of people experiencing homelessness. Find out more about the impact our Christmas appeal has and how you can get involved.
Since 1967, the Crisis at Christmas charity appeal has been supporting those of us experiencing homelessness at Christmas. Every year, with your help, we mobilise a unique volunteering effort to provide warmth, companionship, and vital services to people facing homelessness at one of the toughest times of the year.
Over that time we’ve learnt a lot about homelessness and how we can help end it. Our support over this period is not a temporary fix and the first day someone spends with us this Christmas isn’t the last. Our Christmas services work alongside the specialist support we provide all year, which includes helping people facing homelessness to find their own stable home, to access education and training.
This Christmas thousands of people experiencing homelessness will need support. Over 330,000 families and individuals across Great Britain are now experiencing the worst forms of homelessness. That includes rough sleeping, sofa surfing and staying in unsuitable temporary accommodation like B&Bs.
This year we will again be providing hotel rooms across London for people who would otherwise be sleeping rough over Christmas. Combined with many more who will receive support through our day centres in the capital and frontline services across Britain, we will be supporting 5,500 people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out a plan to get everyone off the streets in England. It’s a once-in-a-generation moment to push forward our work to end homelessness – but we need your help. Because getting someone off the streets is only the start.
Your donations to the Crisis at Christmas charity appeal make this support possible.
Find out what's going on in your area and how you can get involved in Crisis at Christmas this year, from volunteering opportunities to carol services - Christmas is well and truly here.
With the help of many generous supporters, partners and donors and a team of over 3,500 dedicated volunteers, we provided hotel accommodation and support via our day centres in London and regional Skylights across Britain. Together, we provided warmth, a safe place to stay and specialist support to over 6,000 people during one of the toughest times of the year, including providing hotel accommodation to 390 people.
We provided over 775 health appointments across the country. These included GP and nurse appointments, eye health, dentistry, podiatry and physiotherapy.
Our London hotels and day centres ran trips for our Christmas guests - with 32 trips organised. Around the rest of England and in Scotland and Wales, we delivered nearly 1,400 Christmas meals.
For many people, our support doesn't end here. We work with people long after Christmas as they rebuild their lives. We'll be there for as long as it takes for someone to leave homelessness behind. For good.
“It was destroying me slowly. I was on the brink of a nervous breakdown. I used to sleep during the days, and walk around for miles at nighttime. The day I went to the hotel was the day when I stopped smoking and drinking, and I’ve been sober since then. The room was cosy. I could properly sleep. I was able to be with myself and view the things in a better light. That was one of the key factors that helped me to move on. That, and a lot of support. When I first met Eloise [Crisis Lead Worker], I felt an instant connection. Once you’re surrounded with kindness and goodness, things start to change.”— Eddie, past Crisis at Christmas guest and Crisis member
