L&Q partners with Crisis to help the homeless

“By partnering with Crisis, we aim to help deliver life-changing support services for homeless people across England, Scotland and Wales. We are also reserving 355 places for guests at Crisis this Christmas, providing safety, companionship and essential support services.

“Over 4,000 people attend Crisis Christmas centres every year, and for many it is the first step in getting the help they need to get off the streets.”

A place at Crisis over Christmas costs £28.18 and includes accommodation for a week. It also provides access to doctors, dentists, and sociable activities such as football and yoga. All guests are encouraged to connect with Crisis Skylight Centres, which offer expert help to find safe housing and gain new skills.

L&Q also sent 11 volunteers to the Crisis warehouse in Bermondsey to help staff process donations of food and clothes ahead of the festive season.

Richard Lee, director of Fundraising at Crisis, said that his charity will work to end homelessness once and for all.

He said: “We know what it will take to end homelessness, but we need everybody in to make this a reality. We are delighted that L&Q have chosen to partner with us, raising vital funds, sharing their time and joining us in a commitment to ending homelessness for good.”

L&Q is one of the 201 housing associations who have signed the Commitment to Refer initiative launched by the National Housing Federation in October - a pledge to collaborate with local authorities to notify them of anyone at risk of homelessness and work to prevent it wherever possible.

Crisis figures show that around 236,000 people in the UK are homeless, with 12,300 people sleeping rough across Britain in 2017.

A further 12,000 people were found to be sleeping in cars, tents and public transport.