Homelessness doesn’t take a break, especially during the festive season. For the people that Julian House supports, things have always been tough.
There are many issues which can lead to homelessness and addressing these complex issues, even at the best of times, is a challenge. More worryingly, the challenges that are making things so difficult today are set to continue in 2023. “Perfect storm” is an often over used description, but right now that is how the immediate future looks for Julian House and the individuals that they support: a chronic shortage of affordable move on accommodation; rising rents; more people ending up on the streets; crippling rises in the cost of life’s most basic commodities (for their clients, there staff and the charity) and a squeeze on benefits, when beneficiaries need them most.
For their Christmas Appeal the charity is raising awareness that the people they support are often ordinary people who have fallen into difficult circumstances. These can include domestic abuse, mental health issues, family breakdown, childhood trauma and addiction.
Julian House is very grateful to Agency UK, who have produced a short animation to help generate vital donations this year. It demonstrates a common story in which financial struggles and problems at home can all too easily see someone fall into homelessness.
If you’d like to watch the animation, you can view it here: https://www.julianhouse.org.uk/help-us-rebuild-lives-this-christmas/