YMCA England & Wales part of new London Homeless Charities Group, launching first winter campaign with support of Mayor of London Sadiq Khan
A total of 18 charities have come together to end rough sleeping and homelessness, launching the new London Homeless Charities Group on Friday 15 December with a winter campaign backed by the Mayor of London.
Welfare changes, soaring housing costs, and a shortage of affordable accommodation mean that more and more people are left with nowhere to call home, with official figures showing that rough sleeping has more than doubled in London since 2010.
The London Homeless Charities Group, which includes YMCA England & Wales, St Mungos, Crisis and others, is joining forces with the Mayor on the ‘No One Needs To Sleep Rough In London’ campaign, calling on the public to join the fight to help ensure there is a way off the streets for people sleeping rough in the capital this winter.
The campaign is aiming to raise awareness and offers an easily accessible single donation point to Londoners, with all funds generated going equally to all 18 charities to help provide vital services and direct support where it’s most needed.
The campaign also wants Londoners to take action when they see some sleeping rough and provide information to the national referral service StreetLink to help connect someone with local outreach services.
Denise Hatton, Chief Executive for YMCA England & Wales, said:
“It should be unimaginable that anyone has to spend a single night sleeping rough in this country.
“As the largest voluntary sector provider of supported housing for young people in England & Wales, providing a home to more than 18,000 people experiencing homelessness each year, local YMCAs see first-hand the devastating effect of the current housing crisis.
“Young people are extremely vulnerable and with temperatures dropping, it’s vital that we get them off the street and help them overcome their challenges to get their lives back on track.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“I know there are millions of Londoners who want to do something to help rough sleepers get off the streets for good. That’s why I am pleased to be joining forces with our new coalition of charities dedicated to this cause, offering a single donation point for Londoners who want to give money to those who need help the most. I urge Londoners to donate and join me in helping people sleeping on our streets to connect with vital services.”
Find out more about the No One Needs To Sleep Rough In London’ campaign at London.gov.uk/Help-Rough-Sleepers
Or donate directly on the Go Fund Me Page.
The Homeless Charity Group comprises of: The Albert Kennedy Trust, Centrepoint, The Connection at St Martins, Crisis, Depaul, Homeless Link, Housing Justice, LandAid, New Horizon Youth Centre, Providence Row, Shelter, St Mungo’s, Thames Reach, The Big Issue, The Passage, The Salvation Army, West London Mission, YMCA England & Wales.
The total number of rough sleepers seen rough sleeping in London in 2016/17 was 8,108. This compares to 8,096 the previous year. The figure reported in 2010/11 was of 3,975.
Find out more about YMCA’s work around homelessness and rough sleeping.