Crisis

Now that the Government has the keys to their new home and is settling in, here’s what they can do to get us on track to ending homelessness. We've put together some moving-in essentials for their first 100 days: 1. Install a Unit for Ending Homelessness To get all different government departments working together to end homelessness 2. Unpack the essentials for ending homelessness with homes The govt can lay out a clear plan for boosting social housing, introduce renting reform laws and give councils the funding they need to support people who are homeless. 3. Bin the Vagrancy Act The new government can end the criminalisation of homelessness by immediately scrapping the Vagrancy Act. After 200 years on the statute books, it’s time to finally get rid of this outdated law. These steps will set us on the path to ending homelessness for good. https://bit.ly/3Lilaql

As we all get ready for a sporty weekend, here's some Feelgood Friday news: We're always in awe of how quickly young people grasp the inherent injustice of homelessness and want to do something about it. Two amazing young people Zedekiah and Isaiah, recently took part in Fulham FC Foundation's Social Action Challenge. To complete the challenge, they wanted to make an impact in their local community by donating essential items to local people experiencing homelessness. After researching suitable charities, they purchased useful clothing as t-shirts and hoodies. Last month they delivered the items to our Skylight centre in Croydon where Leigh was on hand to show them around the centre and explain more about our work. It's reassuring to know that the future lies in the hands of compassionate people like Zedekiah and Isaiah. A huge thanks to them both as well as to Fulham FC Foundation for making this happen. Now let's make sure that homelessness is not something they have to solve when they grow up! https://lnkd.in/e7CPBAy4

We are hiring! Join our Birmingham Skylight as a Housing Procurement Officer. You will deliver an outstanding property procurement service across the private and social rented sector. Working alongside our team of Lead Worker Coaches you will identify appropriate matches of tenants and homes and ensure tenants receive the support they need to sustain their homes and landlord relationships are nurtured. ✨ Salary: £33,940 per annum ✨ Contract: Permanent ✨ Hours: Full time (35 per week) To find out more and apply, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/giViepsa #endinghomelessness #wearehiring #birminghamjobs

Today marks the first year of #Homewards, Prince Willam's five-year programme to demonstrate how communities can work together to end homelessness. Working in six flagship locations, Homewards has been forming local coalitions to tackle homelessness in each area. Ultimately, the aim is to produce tested models for tackling many aspects of homelessness which can be rolled out on a much wider scale. This includes helping to change public attitudes about homelessness - it's not inevitable and it shouldn't be normalised. Crisis is one of the Homewards partners and today our CEO Matt Downie is joining Prince William as he visits the Homewards program in Lambeth. Matt explained: “More and more people are being forced into homelessness – whether sofa surfing, squeezing into temporary accommodation or sleeping on the streets. Yet it is not inevitable. With the right approach and ambition, we can end it. “Homewards has already established strong foundations, forming wide-ranging local groups of organisations and individuals and focusing minds on measures to prevent people from becoming homeless. Crucially, Homewards has sought to put people with lived experience at the heart of its work. “We remain excited to be a part of this programme and look forward to working with partners and communities over the coming years to help end homelessness for good.” https://lnkd.in/e4sJdDws

Thank you for fighting for a future free from homelessness! ❤️🏠 We’ve achieved a phenomenal amount together through campaigning over the last year. ✊🏼 We faced down the Criminal Justice Bill. ✔️ You helped secure key manifesto promises on ending homelessness. 📝 You’ve put ending homelessness on the agenda for our new MPs. 📣 You’ve amplified the voices of people experiencing homelessness. 🙌🏼 And for the first time, we have a UK Government elected on the promise of ending all forms of homelessness – this is HUGE. We could not have done any of this without you. We hope this fills you with hope about the great things we can achieve if we work together. Together, let’s keep fighting to build a future free from homelessness.

"There is so much satisfaction in making someone's day a little bit easier" Gaynor became a volunteer on Reception at our Brent Skylight after many years of getting involved in Crisis at Christmas. She tells us more about what it's like to volunteer at Crisis. "After retiring in June, I was looking to do more volunteering having spent many years getting involved with Crisis at Christmas. I knew that I enjoyed spending my time working alongside like-minded others, helping people access vital resources and being that smiling face for those that need help. "I joined the Welcome and Reception team in April and have thoroughly enjoyed every day spent at the Brent Skylight so far. Although there are moments that are undeniably hard and emotional there is also a lot of fun and my team have been a great support and patient with me as I navigate my new tasks. From maintaining a clean and welcoming space to coordinating guests with the variety of resources available to them, there is such satisfaction from being able to make someone else’s day that little bit easier. "The centre is engaging and creative as it aims to bring everyone together. I recently had the opportunity to attend an Iftar meal during Ramadan where there was food and music provided for all. "I’m already looking forward to many more days and events working with Crisis and hope to contribute to the admiral work and purpose of this amazing charity." If you'd like to volunteer with Crisis, visit our website to find out more and sign up: https://bit.ly/3sr6WLF

"Thanks to Crisis, I am looking forward to a new life where I feel more settled." Thanks to you, our Crisis supporters, Caroline was able to leave behind an abusive relationship and find affordable accommodation after her landlord served her with an eviction notice. She says, "When I came to Crisis, I was so impressed. They've really helped me so much. They helped me sort out a few problems with my bills in my current property and other practical things that I was having trouble with. “Crisis pointed me in the direction of social landlords and helped me with the housing application and supported me with the types of property that I could apply for because I have epilepsy. "Thanks to Crisis, we've managed to find a social housing property through one of the social landlords. My daughter and I are going to be moving into a two-bedroom house, which is close to my parents' house. We can start a new life, out of the private rented sector and into social housing which is a bit more secure and better than where we are now. "I am proud of standing on my own two feet, leaving an unhealthy relationship and facing the world on my own with my daughter. It's been a complete change of lifestyle." You can read Caroline's story in full on our website: https://bit.ly/4cJEbO8 Thank you to all of our volunteers, fundraisers, campaigners and donors for helping people like Caroline leave homelessness behind for good.

Colleagues at Lloyds Banking Group are this week's supporter stars!⭐ Since April 2023, colleagues at Lloyds Banking Group have supported our partnership to help end homelessness for good – raising over £1.7m and volunteering over 5,000 hours of their time at our shops, Crisis at Christmas hotels and warehouse. Jenn works at Lloyds Banking Group and challenged herself to walk the West Highland Way in 5 days - a 96 mile trail through some of Scotland's most beautiful landscapes. She shares her story. "I chose to walk the West Highland Way because I wanted to challenge myself both physically and mentally. I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I really wanted to see what I was made of. "This is one of the hardest challenges I have ever taken part in. After day 1 I had the most excruciating blisters and at that point, I was only 27.5 miles into the journey. Some of it was really difficult. We found it difficult to get up and get moving every morning knowing we had 25 miles of walking ahead of us. "That doesn't mean there wasn't some highs! The scenery was absolutely beautiful, we had amazing weather, my partner got me through so much of it - we had a great laugh! "I would definitely recommend it! I'd say, take your time, do it over more than 5 days and enjoy the scenery that Scotland's got to offer. "I decided to support Crisis, a charity dedicated to ending homelessness. Everyone deserves somewhere safe to live and with every step of my journey, I was raising awareness and funds to support those in need. "I managed to raise £1,000 for Crisis, and along with Lloyds Banking Group matching this to £500, it brought my total to £1500." Thank you so much to Jenn and everyone at Lloyds Banking Group for your support! Together, we'll end homelessness.⭐ If you've been inspired by Jenn and Lloyds Banking Group, find out how your organisation can help us end homelessness: https://bit.ly/4cc5JeR

We are hiring! Join us as a Reception Engagement Worker based in our Newcastle Skylight. You will provide first line support to people experiencing homelessness, assess their needs, identify support, and work with colleagues and services to address their homelessness. This is a key role as you will be part of a members journey out of homelessness, right from their first visit. ✨ Salary: £26,487 per annum ✨ Contract: Permanent ✨ Hours: Full time (35 per week) This is a fast-paced role where no two days are the same. If you are interested and would like to find out more, please visit our website: https://lnkd.in/egnCZigx #endinghomelessness #newcastlejobs #wearehiring

A future free from homelessness is possible. Let’s make sure the next Government knows that we want them to deliver it. 3 days left until polling day. Use our tool to look up your local candidates and tell them that you want them to play their part in a future free from homelessness: https://bit.ly/3yXZflo