World Homeless Day 2025: Understanding and taking action

This year, on Friday 10th October 2025, people across the globe will observe World Homeless Day - a moment to pause, reflect, and most importantly, take action on one of society's most pressing challenges. Whether you're already familiar with the day or learning about it for the first time, there's never been a more important time to understand what it means and how we can all make a difference.

What is World Homeless Day?

World Homeless Day began in 2010 as a grassroots initiative, born from online discussions between activists who were passionate about supporting people experiencing homelessness in their communities. What started as conversations between dedicated individuals has grown into a global movement that brings together charities, local authorities, businesses, and everyday people who want to create positive change.

The day serves multiple purposes: it's a platform to celebrate the good work happening in communities, to benchmark our progress in tackling homelessness and to advocate for improved policies and funding. But perhaps most crucially, it raises awareness about the immediate needs of people currently experiencing homelessness and promotes work to alleviate suffering and prevent tragedy.

The Reality in the UK

The statistics paint a sobering picture of homelessness in England. According to the latest government figures from January to March 2025, over 83,000 households were assessed as needing support to prevent or relieve homelessness during that quarter alone.

Even more stark is the snapshot of temporary accommodation: on 31st March 2025, a record-breaking 131,140 households were living in temporary accommodation - a 11.8% increase from the same time the previous year. This includes 169,050 dependent children living without the stability of a permanent home (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Statutory Homelessness in England: January to March 2025, published July 2025).

Behind these numbers are real people facing daily challenges that many of us take for granted, including access to clean, appropriate clothing. When you're without a stable home, maintaining dignity through proper clothing becomes incredibly difficult. Where do you store clean clothes? How do you wash them regularly? What do you do when the seasons change and you need warmer clothing? These practical challenges add another layer of difficulty to an already overwhelming situation.

The aims of World Homeless Day

World Homeless Day isn't just about raising awareness—it's about tangible action. The day aims to:

• Bring communities together to address local homelessness through practical support and solidarity

• Advocate for systemic change by highlighting the need for adequate, affordable housing and support services

• Celebrate progress by recognising the dedicated individuals and organisations making a real difference

• Prevent homelessness by promoting early intervention and support before crisis point is reached

• Challenge stigma by humanising the experience of homelessness and fostering empathy.

How you can get involved

The beauty of World Homeless Day is that there's a role for everyone, regardless of your resources or time availability. Here are some meaningful ways to participate:

Volunteer your time. Local homelessness charities are always in need of volunteers. Whether it's helping at a food bank, sorting donated clothing, or offering your professional skills, your time can make an enormous difference.

Organise or attend a local event. Many communities hold awareness events, fundraisers, or community meals on World Homeless Day. Check what's happening in your area or consider organising something yourself - even a small coffee morning can raise vital funds and awareness.

Donate essentials. Practical donations like warm clothing, new underwear and socks, toiletries, and sleeping bags are always needed. Consider what you'd struggle without if you lost your home tomorrow.

Educate yourself and others. Take time to understand the root causes of homelessness and share what you learn. Breaking down misconceptions is crucial to building a more compassionate society.

Support systemic change. Contact your local MP about housing policy, support campaigns for affordable housing, and advocate for better mental health and addiction services.

Be kind. Sometimes the simplest actions matter most. A smile, a respectful conversation, or treating someone experiencing homelessness with the dignity every person deserves can make a profound difference to their day.

Looking forward

World Homeless Day reminds us that homelessness isn't inevitable - it's a problem that can be solved with compassion, resources, and political will. With over 131,000 households in temporary accommodation in England alone, the scale of the challenge is clear. But so too is the power of collective action.

This 10th October, let's come together not just to acknowledge the problem, but to be part of the solution. Whether you volunteer, advocate, or simply take the time to understand the issue more deeply, every action contributes to a future where everyone has a safe place to call home and the dignity of clean clothes to wear.

Want to help support people in need? Your donations to us are turned into charity shop gift cards for distribution by our partners to people in need, including those who are homeless (or at risk of becoming so).