One of Britain's most prominent homelessness charities is publicly urging its counterpart to fundamentally change its approach to tackling the country's housing emergency.
A Call for Direct Action
Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, has called on Shelter to follow its lead and begin directly providing homes to those living on the streets. This significant challenge comes after Crisis successfully piloted its own housing programme, demonstrating what it believes is a more effective model for addressing homelessness.
The intervention follows Crisis's recent announcement that it would expand its direct housing services after a successful trial period. Matt Downie, Chief Executive of Crisis, stated that while campaigning work remains vital, "the time has come for more direct intervention" in providing accommodation.
The Evidence Behind the Approach
Crisis's own pilot programme has provided compelling evidence for this shift in strategy. The charity has already begun directly housing people in London and Manchester, with plans to expand this initiative to Birmingham and Newcastle in the coming months.
This hands-on approach represents a significant departure from the traditional charity model that focuses primarily on advocacy, research, and support services without directly managing housing stock. Downie emphasised that both approaches are necessary, telling The Guardian that "we need to do both - the campaigning and the provision."
The call for Shelter to adopt similar methods highlights growing frustration with the pace of progress in reducing homelessness through traditional means. With rough sleeping numbers continuing to rise across many parts of the UK, charities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible results.
Charity Roles in the Housing Crisis
Both organisations play crucial but distinct roles in addressing homelessness in Britain. Shelter has traditionally focused on legal advice, campaigning, and policy work, helping people navigate the housing system and advocating for systemic change.
Crisis, while also engaged in advocacy, has increasingly moved toward direct service provision, including running homeless shelters and now developing its own housing portfolio. This practical experience has informed its belief that charities must be more directly involved in creating housing solutions.
The debate comes at a critical moment for homelessness policy in the UK. Official figures show rough sleeping has increased significantly in recent years, rising by 27% in England alone according to the latest government statistics. London has seen particularly sharp increases, with the capital accounting for a disproportionate share of people sleeping rough.
Both charities agree that the fundamental solution lies in building more social housing, but they differ on how to provide immediate relief while waiting for government action. The ongoing cost of living crisis and soaring private rents have pushed more people into precarious housing situations, increasing pressure on charity services.
As the housing emergency deepens, the charity sector faces difficult questions about the most effective ways to allocate resources and create meaningful change for those experiencing homelessness.
