Michelle de Swarte and Kerry Godliman join St Mungo’s in celebrating Volunteers’ Week
To mark Volunteers’ Week, actors Michelle de Swarte (The Duchess, Spent) and Kerry Godliman (After Life, Trigger Point) spent a day volunteering with leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s at the organisation’s gardening project Putting Down Roots. For over 20 years, Putting Down Roots has helped people recovering from homelessness to grow their confidence and skills, and to rebuild their lives through gardening. More people than ever are sleeping rough on the streets or faced with the harsh reality of losing their home, and our volunteers are vital in helping to combat this worsening crisis. The pair worked alongside clients and staff to plant out a naturalistic flower border at the charity’s permanent London site. As well as learning some new gardening skills, both found out more about the benefits of volunteering for St Mungo’s – and thanked the 450 volunteers who spared their time, talent, and skills for the leading homelessness charity last year. “Volunteers are a huge part of the work that St Mungo’s does, helping people recover from homelessness and rebuild their lives,” explains Michelle de Swarte. “It is also a two-way street. Volunteering is good for your mental health, gives you a sense of purpose, and it also gives you a sense of community.” Michelle helped to plant out flowers that clients, staff and volunteers have grown from seed over spring. “I actually lived in homeless accommodation, not even five minutes’ walk from here, as a teenager,” she says. “My family members have lived in temporary accommodation all around here.” From Outreach teams who find and support people who are rough sleeping, to specialist support for clients as they move into independent accommodation, St Mungo’s is there for those experiencing homelessness every step of the way. “I don’t have a garden, and I’ve never gardened, but I have destroyed a fair amount of houseplants – and so it has been a really joyful day,” Michelle continues. “I’ve been schooled with some basic lessons. The most important thing I’ve learned? Clean up your workstation. You can’t just plant up pots and walk away. You have to tidy up!” “St Mungo’s is a fabulous organisation,” says Kerry Godliman. “Above all I find the nurturing, community element of St Mungo’s really lovely. It’s very powerful in a world which can often be all about short, immediate fixes.” “I’ve had a really lovely time today putting in some plants, and chatting, and seeing all of the amazing gardening that’s going on down here, and meeting all of the people that do brilliant work at St Mungo’s” People can get involved in a range of volunteering opportunities at St Mungo’s: from supporting Outreach teams to find and people who are sleeping rough on the streets and help them move into emergency accommodation, to drawing on language skills as a translator, or sharing expertise by teaching art, music or cookery classes in our accommodation services. “As an organisation, we work with people experiencing homelessness who have often been let down multiple times and are at a difficult point in their lives” explains Iver Morgan, Head of Volunteering, Apprenticeships, Involvement and Placements at St Mungo’s. “We would not be able to do what we do at St Mungo’s without the incredible dedication of our volunteers. The way they show up consistently, build up trust, and engage with the people we support is wonderful to see.” “Volunteers really do help us to rebuild lives.” To learn more about volunteering for St Mungo’s, and view available opportunities to get involved, visit the volunteering area of St Mungo’s website.
New poll reveals that 57% of the UK public think there will always be significant levels of homelessness
Just 29% of those surveyed know how they could support people experiencing homelessness From a list of issues that people might be currently facing in the UK, 70% say that increases in cost of living worry them the most Some 27% of respondents said that they are most worried about the levels of homelessness, despite the number of people faced with homelessness in England being the highest since records began With temperatures plummeting and rough sleeping on the rise, it is time to respond – and St Mungo’s is calling for the public’s support to end homelessness for good New polling from St Mungo’s highlights that 57 per cent of surveyed people think that there will always be significant levels of homelessness in the UK. The survey was run with the leading research company, Ipsos. It takes a deep dive into the misconceptions that members of the public have about how people experiencing homelessness can be supported – both in the short-term and long-term. One of the main reasons respondents said they have not supported people experiencing homelessness in the last 12 months is not having spare money, food or clothes to donate (29%). Also, 23% of people polled have said that there is no point in them supporting people experiencing homelessness because it won’t make any difference. Meanwhile, only 29% of those surveyed agree that they knew how they could support people experiencing homelessness, with a similar proportion (33%) disagreeing. 40% of people surveyed said they have given food or drink to someone experiencing homelessness. The survey comes when there is a 27% increase in the number of rough sleepers and a worrying number of households who are threatened with becoming homeless. Recent statistics point to 324,990 households in England assessed as either being at risk of becoming homeless, or experiencing homelessness, representing an increase of 10.4% from the previous year. The survey also highlights that people’s worries around homelessness are overshadowed by broader concerns around the cost-of-living crisis, with 70% of respondents worried about inflation followed by healthcare (52%), the economy (50%), and crime and violence (46%). In comparison, only 27% of respondents felt concerned by homelessness. St Mungo’s warns that the two are in fact closely linked, with the charity expecting a surge in people needing support from its services this winter, fuelled by rising costs and a shrinking housing market. The charity’s frontline workers are responding to the homelessness crisis all year round, finding people who have been forced into homelessness, and helping them to access emergency accommodation and tailored support programmes. Last year, their teams supported over 23,000 people experiencing homelessness, with winter being the organisation’s busiest time. “I was on the streets for six weeks before St Mungo’s found me,” says Curtis, who was flourishing as an actor and musician when a relationship breakdown led to him suddenly becoming homeless. “It was incredibly cold at the time. It was really horrible.” Curtis tried to stay safe and warm by sleeping in an open-air shopping centre, and was found by one of St Mungo’s frontline workers. “Someone from St Mungo’s came to find me at about three in the morning. The two gentlemen were really warm and understanding, and they told me where I could get food, and where I could get advice about what to do.” “Now I’m in private rented accommodation. I’ve been out of the system for six months, going forward with my musical career,” he says. “St Mungo’s have continued to be a fantastic support, for things I couldn’t navigate by myself.” The survey results also point to some gaps in understanding around the role of frontline workers. Some 79% of respondents said they have heard of frontline workers who work with people experiencing homelessness. Of these, some 56% knew that frontline workers can help to access secure housing or shelter for people who need it, such as shelters and temporary accommodation. According to St Mungo’s, this is the main responsibility of frontline workers. Secure housing and shelter in places like hostels are the best places for those experiencing homelessness to begin rebuilding their lives. However, the majority (57%) said they were aware of the role of frontline workers in distributing essential items, such as food, water, and clothing. “While winter has arrived and temperatures are plummeting to life-threatening levels, there are record numbers of people who are homeless, or at risk of it,” says St Mungo’s CEO, Emma Haddad. “St Mungo’s frontline teams are working to help as many people as possible day and night. Right now, our hostels are providing somewhere safe and warm to stay out of the cold, which poses very real dangers to people experiencing homelessness. With support, this can be the first step to finding a more settled place to live.” St Mungo’s polling also shows limited awareness around the various ways that the public can help to support people experiencing homelessness. The main way people polled have supported this issue in the last 12 months is by giving money directly to people experiencing homelessness (27%), or by donating clothing, food, money etc. to a homeless charity (27%). St Mungo’s advises that while this can provide short-term relief to someone sleeping rough, it doesn’t end homelessness and rebuild lives. The charity says that donating to a homelessness organisation, volunteering, and campaigning around social issues relating to homelessness can all pave the way to longer-term accommodation. To help somebody who appears to be experiencing homelessness, people can also contact Streetlink. The referral service works closely with St Mungo’s frontline teams, signposting them to people who need support. People can also contact their local council if they are worried about homelessness, who have a duty to provide a range of accommodation options dependent on needs. However, in the last 12 months only 3% of those surveyed volunteered at local shelters or food banks; followed by 2% who said they had advocated for policy change to prevent homelessness, or support people experiencing this; 1% said they
Homelessness services at risk as funding cliff-edge looms, warn leading organisations in the sector
In an open letter to Government, 23 homelessness organisations request that a vital source of funding continues The letter comes as figures released today show a record rise in homelessness, with mental health featured as the highest support need 23 leading homelessness organisations, including St Mungo’s, Shelter and Centrepoint, have called on the Government to protect vital funding for homelessness, which is due to end in March 2025. The Rough Sleeping Initiative funding (RSI) is an integral source of governmental funding to get and keep people off the streets. Demand for the organisations’ services has never been higher, with figures released today pointing to a record number of people who are homeless. As the cost-of-living crisis and lack of affordable housing continue to bite, 178,560 households are recorded to be homeless and 146,430 at risk of it – so a total of 324,990 households. Without RSI funding to support this record number experiencing homelessness, services are at significant risk. Many of these services are run in partnership with local authorities facing acute financial pressures, which will only ramp up without RSI support. For example, councils in London are spending £90m per month on temporary accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, which is up almost 40% from 2023 figures. RSI funding has had a huge impact on meeting the demand of people facing homelessness and ensuring they get the appropriate support. As the lead signatory, St Mungo’s has revealed that around a third of its commissioned services are funded by RSI, totaling around £17.6 million. In England, Housing First services show what can be run with RSI funding. They are essential in providing people experiencing homelessness with accommodation, often for the first time. St Mungo’s Westminster Housing First service is one such example, supporting people with multiple and complex needs: 92% of people accessing St Mungo’s Housing First have mental health support needs and 69% have a mental health diagnosis like anxiety or depression, whilst 81% require physical health support if they’re living with immobility, for instance. Today’s homelessness statistics illustrate the numbers of people on the streets, or without a stable home, facing complex mental and physical needs. The open letter signatories warn that scaling back RSI funding will only compound these needs. The letter also states that this funding must be protected for at least three years; this is to provide support for people already facing a homelessness crisis, as well as to give enough time to strengthen homelessness prevention. Emma Haddad, CEO at St Mungo’s, said: “Today’s sobering statistics point to the scale of homelessness and the challenge ahead for national and local government, as well as charities, in tackling it. Behind these statistics, there are people who our teams see every day. People who are worried about finding shelter for the night after months – or even years – sleeping rough. People who are worried about finding a stable home when time is running out on temporary accommodation arrangements. “Without vital sources of funding like the Rough Sleeping Initiative, yet more people will experience the trauma of homelessness, and our collective aim of ending homelessness for good will be pushed even further away. “As we approach the Budget, leading voices in the homelessness and housing sectors are asking the Government to protect RSI funding so that homelessness services can continue, and no one faces a life of uncertainty without a home.” The coalition of organisations calls for the protection of RSI to be included in the Autumn Budget on Wednesday 30 October. -ENDS- Signatories to the open letter include: AKT The Big Issue Group Centrepoint The Chartered Institute of Housing The Connection at St Martin’s Depaul UK Emmaus UK Glass Door Groundswell NACCOM National Experts Citizens Group National Housing Federation New Horizon Youth Centre The Passage Praxis Providence Row Release Revolving Door Single Homelessness Project Shelter St Mungo’s YMCA England and Wales Your Place
NEW DATA: Government data shows 33% increase in rough sleeping numbers in London
Headline Statistics New data was released today (30 April 2024) by the Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) which covers January to March 2024. In total, 4,118 people were recorded as rough sleeping in London between January to March 2024, this is an increase of 33% on the same period last year. 2,038 people rough sleeping for the first time, a 37% increase on the same figure this time last year. 511 people deemed to be living on the streets, 36% higher than the same figure this time last year. 1,637 people were intermittently rough sleeping, 29% higher than the same period last year. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) also published data today for October – December 2023, which shows an increase in statutory homelessness. 78,980 households were homeless or at risk of homelessness, an increase of 8.8% from the same period last year. The figures also demonstrate an increasingly unstable private rented sector, with 44.4% of the households at risk of homelessness renting privately – an increase of 7.2% from last year. Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, Emma Haddad, said: “It is truly devastating to see yet another rise in homelessness across London and a 37% increase in those sleeping rough for the first time. Every day our outreach teams are trying to support more people off the streets, but the huge shortage of affordable and appropriate housing makes this really challenging. With the Mayoral and London Assembly Elections this week, and a general election to come, we urge those elected to make ending homelessness a priority. Homelessness devastates lives, and our collective focus must be on preventing it at all costs.”
Thomas Miller Announces Corporate Charity Partnership with St Mungo’s
Thomas Miller, an international provider of market-leading insurance services, is pleased to announce that it is partnering with charity St Mungo’s, to help tackle the issues faced by those experiencing homelessness across England, and support them in finding somewhere safe to call home. Nationally, rough sleeping in England has increased by 74% since 2010. In 2022-23, 10,053 people slept rough in London alone, an increase of 21% on the year before. Last year, St Mungo’s provided over 3,000 people with housing on any given night and supported over 28,000 people through their outreach, as well as helping those in need of access to safe accommodation, and learning and education programmes designed to prevent them from returning to the streets in the future and find pathways out of homelessness for good. Beginning in January 2024, Thomas Miller and St Mungo’s commence their two-year global corporate charity partnership, which will raise a minimum of £100,000 to support the charity’s vital work across all stages of the process, from outreach, to finding accommodation, and helping them rebuild their lives in the long term through professional skills development. Thomas Miller’s employees were the driving force for the partnership, who identified which current issues matter the most, with St Mungo’s being chosen in the subsequent charity selection vote in 2023. Jay Hunt, Head of Partnerships at St Mungo’s: “St Mungo’s is delighted to announce our new partnership with Thomas Miller to help further our mission to end all forms of homelessness. We are excited to see the enthusiasm within the business to work with St Mungo’s and are proud to have been selected by Thomas Miller staff as a charity they wish to champion. The generous donations will help us to continue to provide crucial services needed to end rough sleeping, and homelessness to ensure no one gets left behind.” Charles Fenton, Chairman of Thomas Miller: “We’re very proud to be supporting St Mungo’s vital work in helping those experiencing homelessness rebuild their lives. Nobody should be forced to sleep on the streets, and we hope that through this partnership we’re able to make a real, long-term difference, helping people escape homelessness and access the opportunities that should be available to everyone.”
Crisis and St Mungo’s join forces for third year in a row to keep Crisis at Christmas hotel open until late-January
Funding from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Greater London Authority, alongside support from St Mungo’s, will provide vital extra time for 148 people who would otherwise be sleeping rough this winter. National homelessness charities Crisis and St Mungo’s are teaming up for a third year, along with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), to extend the hotel-based Crisis at Christmas service in London further into the new year. The hotel provision, which provides each guest with their own private room, along with a dedicated support worker and access to housing and benefit advice, will now run until 19th January 2024. This extension, made possible by funding from DLUHC and support from the GLA, as well as the generous support of the public, will see nearly 150 people, who would otherwise be sleeping rough, being given the best possible chance of leaving homelessness behind. Typically, Crisis’ long-running Christmas provision comes to an end shortly after the new year, following a two-week period where guests are given somewhere safe and warm to sleep, three meals a day, companionship and expert advice from Crisis staff and volunteers. The extension of hotel-based support will mean guests have somewhere secure and comfortable to stay during some of the coldest weeks of the year, alongside access to additional services including mental health and substance-misuse support. For the last two years providing a safe place to stay and access to support services, including St Mungo’s specialist move-on support, for an extended period has benefitted guests who have experienced rough sleeping for longer and have more complex needs. Crisis Chief Executive, Matt Downie, said: “Extending our hotel provision in London gives our guests, and the staff and volunteers they’ll be working with, crucial extra time to work on practical and sustainable plans to end their homelessness. In these extra weeks, guests will continue to receive tailored one-to-one support and will be provided with clear routes into year-round services on offer from organisations like Crisis. “I’m delighted that, now for the third year in a row, we have been able to come together as a sector, and we are hugely grateful for the support that the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Greater London Authority have been able to offer. Providing people with their own hotel room, alongside specialist and personalised support, is a dignified and proven approach that can, and does, changes lives.” St Mungo’s Director of Rough-Sleeping Services, James Lally, said: “Safe, warm and decent accommodation is the foundation on which we all build, and rebuild, our lives. With a roof over our heads we can protect ourselves from violence, establish healthy, supportive relationships and build hope and optimism for the future. None of us should be without it, though tragically many are. “We know that people are more likely to escape homelessness if they are supported to do so from somewhere safe to stay. This vital funding extends that support to some of the most excluded people during the coldest time of the year. Once again, it enables St Mungo’s and Crisis to work together to support as many people as possible to leave homelessness behind for good. Felicity Buchan MP, Minister for Housing and Homelessness said: “We are very pleased to be able to provide additional funding for the extension of the Crisis at Christmas provision this winter. This funding forms part of the £2 billion the government is investing over 3 years in tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, including £188 million through the Rough Sleeping Initiative in London. The Crisis at Christmas provision is designed to work with those sleeping rough who are least likely to access accommodation and support and is thus central to delivering our shared ambition to end rough sleeping in London”. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m extremely pleased to support Crisis and St Mungo’s as they extend the provision of safe hotel accommodation for nearly 150 people sleeping rough this Christmas. “No-one deserves to sleep rough on the streets, which is why I’m doing all that I can to end the cycle of homelessness for thousands of Londoners. Since becoming Mayor, I have quadrupled City Hall’s rough sleeping budget, helping over 16,000 people to leave the streets for good. “I have also launched my winter rough sleeping campaign to fundraise for frontline homelessness charities in the capital this winter. I urge all Londoners to consider donating a few pounds to the campaign — every contribution makes a huge difference to the lives of those sleeping rough.”
Homelessness close to home for many, charity finds in run up to Christmas.
People experiencing homelessness is at an all-time high – including rough sleeping – and new findings released today reveal just how close to home the issues of homelessness are for the UK. Leading homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, has found that this year a fifth of us have either been in temporary accommodation, or knows someone who has (21%) and that 12% of people have slept rough on the streets in 2023 or knows someone who has. Furthermore, almost a fifth (19%) have also experienced hidden homelessness in 2023 or know someone who has – these are people who are experiencing homelessness or housing difficulties, regardless of legal definitions or entitlement, but who are not supported by their local authorities or counted in official statistics. This may be, for example, when people are sofa surfing with family, friends or another connection, or sleeping in their vehicles. With the bitter winter weather starting earlier this year, St Mungo’s is releasing new findings as to how close to home the issues of homelessness are for the UK population. The charity provides a wide range of services to help end homelessness in London, Bristol, Oxford, Reading, Bournemouth and Brighton and Recovery College services in Leicester. St Mungo’s workers are working at the sharp end of homelessness by helping people experiencing rough sleeping into safe accommodation or supporting those in hostels or specialist housing and providing support and ways to help for those struggling with addiction or mental health challenges. A crucial part of their work is preventing people from falling into homelessness in the first place and when people are brought in from the streets it is of the highest priority for teams to ensure they don’t find themselves sliding through the cracks once again. With people experiencing homelessness at an all-time high** – including rough sleeping – the charity is disclosing findings from a December poll as to how close the issue of homelessness is for the UK population this Christmas and how we can all help those most vulnerable in our communities. Top findings: In 2023, a fifth of those polled have either been in temporary accommodation, or knows someone who has (21%) Almost a fifth of people (19%) have also experienced hidden homeless* in 2023 or know someone who has. 12% of people have slept rough on the streets in 2023 or knows someone who has. In terms of concerns, 20% of people are worried about the possibility of facing financial strain and housing insecurity in the event of their landlord selling the property or altering rental terms.? 18% of people are concerned that a friend and/or family member may be likely to experience a form of homelessness within the next year. 17% of people know someone facing a form of homelessness this Christmas period. “Emma Haddad, CEO of St Mungo’s said: “We’ve launched our Last Night on the Streets winter fundraising appeal to help raise vital funds to tackle rising rates of homelessness. It’s our biggest campaign of the year, boosting the support we can provide to the 30,000 people experiencing homelessness who we work with each year. Our work aims to ensure that when we reach people, it truly is for their last night on the street and a way out of homelessness for good.? Our work supports people experiencing all kinds of homelessness, including rough sleeping which is the most dangerous and visible. We are there long after people leave the streets, supporting people to rebuild their lives through recovery, training and employment services, as well as providing accommodation that caters for people with extreme vulnerabilities.” Rough sleeping and homelessness this winter are at record levels and there are lots of ways the public can help.? Donations?are needed more than ever at this time of year. The charity is always on the lookout for?volunteers, including people?who can help directly on the frontline, and you can find our more at mungos.org If you see someone sleeping rough, please?refer?to local rough sleeping services via The StreetLink website. thestreetlink.org.uk If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.
As Winter freeze approaches St Mungo’s Client Space at Fusion building will bring people in for safety and support
On Friday 15th December leading national homelessness charity, St Mungo’s, is launching Fusion, a new daytime safe space for people who are sleeping rough in Bournemouth. Councillor Kieron Wilson, portfolio holder for housing (BCP Council) will officially open Fusion on Friday 15th December at 10am. The client space will be open that day and from there onwards between 10am and 1pm, Mondays to Fridays. At Fusion people will be able to relax, take part in activities such as gender specific groups, health & wellbeing workshops, art groups and other life skills. They will also be able to access information about support services, set up appointments with their St Mungo’s lead workers and partner agencies. Fusion welcomes anyone who is currently sleeping rough, or anyone who is at risk of returning to the streets. It is a drop-in service and people do not need to be referred. Moving away from the streets can be difficult and complex therefore the experts from the charity will work closely with individuals to create long-term plans so they can stop sleeping rough. That might be by supporting them to access temporary accommodation, private rented accommodation or reconnecting them to accommodation in an area where they have friends or family. The charity also supports to find individuals pathways to access physical and mental health care and drug or alcohol support. Andrew Teale, Service Manager, St Mungo’s said: “Supporting those experiencing homelessness is a 365-days-a-year priority for our St Mungo’s teams in Bournemouth and winter is always a vital period to provide help and safeguard those most vulnerable in our communities. Our new expanded Fusion service crucially means that our outreach workers can offer people experiencing rough sleeping or are at risk of returning to rough sleeping a safe space where they can have a hot drink and be linked in with experts who can help with their housing, mental health, substance use and benefits.” Other services working with the St Mungo’s teams from the Fusion centre include Homeless Health Team, BCP Housing, We Are With You and Dorset Working Women Project. You can connect someone who is sleeping rough with the St Mungo’s BCP Outreach Team by getting in touch directly on 01202 315962 or via the national StreetLink app and website.
St Mungo’s response to the statutory quarterly homelessness statistics (April to June 2023)
73,660 households were homeless or at risk of it. An increase of 2% from the same period last year. (6.9% increase in homelessness and 1.5% in threatened with homelessness) The private rented sector is increasingly unstable. Nearly half of the households at risk of homelessness were in the private rented sector. 6,640 households received a Section 21 notice. Up 10.3% from this time last year 25% households had at least one person in part or full-time work. Up just over 10% from this time last year. St Mungo’s CEO, Emma Haddad, said: “We’re dealing with rising rates of homelessness, a cost-of-living crisis and now bitterly cold weather, and these combined are putting huge pressure on charities like St Mungo’s. Today’s quarterly homelessness statistics are a sad reminder that the number of people falling into homelessness is continuing to rise. The factors causing homelessness can be complex, but too often St Mungo’s frontline workers are supporting people who are in employment, they have lost secure housing and are unable to find a path back to a safe roof over their heads. We urgently need an increase in affordable and appropriate housing. We hope these statistics will galvanise policy action to bring in the Renters Reform Bill and abolish Section 21 evictions; a detrimental clause which currently allows landlords to evict tenants without reason.” If you can, please consider making a donation to help us address the homelessness crisis.
St Mungo’s response to the Autumn Statement
Following a huge amount of campaigning over recent months, we are very pleased that the Government has announced an increase in local housing allowance (LHA) from April 2024 to cover the bottom 30% of local rents, as set out by the Chancellor in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday 22nd November. St Mungo’s has consistently made the case for LHA to be increased, using evidence from the services we run. Along with colleagues across the sector in the Cover the Cost Coalition, our voices have been heard. This change means that people in receipt of housing benefit will have access to homes that they can actually afford to rent. It will make a crucial difference to many people’s lives across the country, preventing them from falling into homelessness or helping them out of homelessness. We also welcome the additional £120 million of funding for councils to invest in homelessness prevention, and the increase in benefits to match inflation. While these policy changes are much-needed, we are still facing a very difficult winter with record numbers of people sleeping rough. We need support to be able to bring people into somewhere warm. Donate today to help bring people off the streets and into safety. You can make tonight someone’s last night on the streets.
