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Easter Appeal 2025

Easter Appeal 2025

Help us bring hope and belonging this Easter.

At Housing Justice, we bring communities together to help people who are experiencing homelessness to form personal connections, helping them to escape homelessness. We believe in the importance of connection and belonging. We also work to make the housing system fairer so that everyone has access to a safe, secure and stable home.

This Easter, we are raising much-needed funds to help us support more of the most marginalised people in England and Wales – people who are just like you but found their lives going horribly wrong through no fault of their own.

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Easter Reflections

The Rt Rev Bishop Rob Wickham

Dear Friends,

Have you ever noticed that once Jesus has been resurrected, He meets with people who are distressed, grieving, anxious or afraid. Often, he begins the encounter with the words “Peace be with you!” Peace in the midst of our despair, hurts, betrayals and disappointments. Sometimes Jesus utters a name, sometimes Jesus breaks bread or serves up fish from a barbeque – words of hope and actions of generosity shaped by an unconditional love.

At Housing Justice, we have listened to the stories of many who have experienced homelessness, and we have heard how, often, it is the generosity of a few that brought a deep feeling of personal hope. We have witnessed time and time again how a moment of listening, responding kindly, and daring to care has enabled stability and an opportunity to rebuild lives from the tragedy of homelessness. This is much needed today, with a 20% rise in street homelessness in England alone this past year – that’s almost 5,000 people. 5,000 people too many. These numbers, all of which are hurting individuals, have almost doubled since 2010.

Friends, it is your small acts of kindness, generosity, time, volunteering, and financial support that can bring hope and belonging, where lives are changed, stability experienced, and communities are blessed.

Please respond generously this Easter, and may God’s peace be with you.

With my love,
+Rob

Watch Bishop Rob’s Easter Reflection here.

The Most Rev Bishop John Davies

Watch Bishop John’s Easter Reflection here.

John's Story

Our work in Action

John had been in and out of homelessness for 15 years when he was referred to our Citadel programme. The fear and uncertainty that he lived with day in and day out when sleeping in his car, and the traumatic events he experienced when living in unsuitable temporary accommodation, caused his mental and physical health to deteriorate to the point that he was struggling to cope with daily life.

When we first met John, he was in a very dark place and badly needed our support. Our Citadel Co-ordinator paired him with one of our trained volunteers who made him feel valued and heard, and helped him to communicate with his landlord to resolve the ongoing dangerous damp issues in his home, receive a care assessment with the local care team, access physical and mental health appointments, and successfully apply for a blue badge so he can leave the house more independently.

Without the ongoing support, time and care that our team gave him, he would have continued to miss out on the help that he desperately needs and, would likely have become homeless again. His case, like so many others, highlights the importance of one-on-one support programmes like Citadel which offer holistic support to people who would otherwise not know how to access it.

Dylan's Story

When we first met Dylan, he had been living in an abusive environment which, like many people experiencing abuse, he left in a hurry, leaving behind most of his belongings. He was traumatised and anxious. With no fixed address, Dylan was unable to apply for photographic ID to open a bank account, and was unable to accept a job offer at a local factory without a bank account. We helped him to access a basic bank account which meant he could accept the job offer, and we supported him into temporary accommodation. Dylan is happy to be working and is slowly recovering from his traumatic experiences.

We have helped hundreds of people who would not otherwise have been able to access a bank account through a special HSBC scheme. Access to a bank account reduces the risk of financial exploitation and enhances people’s chances of accessing work, benefits and housing.

Mara's Story

Mara found herself homeless when her mother passed away, as she had no right to stay in their home. With nowhere else to go, she spent nine months sleeping in night shelters and sofa surfing – a traumatic time that compounded her grief and vulnerability.

We first met Mara when she was referred to our Hosting Programme. We matched her with one of our trained hosts who not only gave her a safe home, but helped her to rebuild her confidence and trust in others. With support from our Hosting Officer, Mara enrolled in a health and social care course at college, and begin working towards independence. Trying to find a home was challenging and the plan provided by her local council was fraught with unrealistic demands.

We were able to support Mara into a suitable private rented home through the London Lettings Network – an innovative platform developed by Housing Justice that lists rental properties accepting people in receipt of benefits. We also provide people with upfront costs such as deposits and the first month’s rent to eliminate financial barriers for people like Mara. Through this resource, Mara found an affordable, good-quality flat within walking distance of her family, giving her a sense of stability and connection to her community. She is delighted with her new home!

 

Please help us to bring hope and belonging to more people like John, Mara and Dylan this Easter by donating to our Easter Appeal.

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Why Support Housing Justice this Easter

• Housing Justice supports more than 4,200 individuals experiencing homelessness each year through our Night Shelter Network
• Through our Faith in Affordable Housing Programme, we have facilitated the delivery of over 100 genuinely affordable homes with 80 more in the pipeline
• We have provided more than 75,000 safe nights sleep to vulnerable and destitute asylum seekers through our Hosting Projects

Please do consider making a donation to help us support the many individuals in our society who are currently experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping and destitution.

Thank you on behalf of these individuals for your generosity.

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