We have seen a sharp increase in the number of people seeking our help this year (20% increase in clients and 40% increase in visits). Many were newly homeless and cited the recession as a contributory factor to their current situation. As it takes some time for loss of employment and housing to filter through into family breakdown, mental health problems, substance misuse and other factors which cause people to become homeless, we face a huge demand for our help this winter.

We are open 21 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing a range of services offering practical support to homeless people, while helping them to resolve their homelessness, rather than sustaining them on the streets. These include outreach for rough sleepers, skills training and career advice, activity programmes and specialist support for complex needs. By encouraging each person to address the issues which caused their homelessness, we help them to gain the skills and confidence to move on.