This Christmas, no one should be without a home

Street artist Banksy unveiled two murals this week showing children in winter coats lying on pavements, pointing up at the sky. One appeared outside Centre Point tower near Tottenham Court Road, the other in Bayswater. Both depict the same two children surrounded by urban rubbish, gazing upwards in a moment of childhood wonder.

On Christmas Day, while many gather around warm tables, at least 382,000 people in England will be homeless. That's 84,240 households facing homelessness, and in the East of England alone, 26,236 people will be without a secure home. 24,000 are in temporary accommodation, including 11,820 children, and 910 people will sleep rough in freezing conditions.

These are families spending Christmas in cramped hotel rooms, children waking up without space to play, and people bedding down in doorways whilst the rest of us unwrap presents.

Bee Bishop, Programme & Policy Manager at Hopestead, said: "These figures are just the tip of the iceberg. Homelessness doesn't end when the Christmas lights come down. We must keep talking about this, keep fighting, and keep working until everyone has a place to call home. This season is a time to be grateful for what we have and to commit to making sure no one is left behind."

We're calling on communities, businesses and leaders to stand with us. Homelessness can be ended, but it takes all of us.
Support Hopestead's Aviva match-funding campaign here:

Every pound you give will be doubled, making twice the impact for those who need it most.

Visit www.hopestead.org to learn more and make a difference. Because everyone deserves a roof over their head at Christmas and beyond.