HomeOwners Alliance support for Crisis

We are proud to support the work by Crisis, the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. Crisis help people directly out of homelessness and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether.

Angela Kerr Director, Editor

Here at the HomeOwners Alliance we recognise the critical importance of owning a home for your emotional, physical, mental and financial well-being. We launched in 2012 with our report The Death of a Dream: the crisis of homeownership which pointed to the long-term decline in those who own a home.

We represent homeowners in the media, lobbying for their interests in government, and campaigning against bad practices in industry, alongside empowering people through information, education and advice on our website.

So it feels only natural that our corporate charity is Crisis. Working nationwide, they work side by side with thousands of people to help them build their lives and leave homelessness behind for good. They work with partners to bring their knowledge, experience and determination to campaign for changes.

What causes homelessness?

People become homeless for lots of different reasons.

• There are social causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment; and life events which push people into homelessness.
• People are forced into homelessness when they leave prison, care or the army with no home to go to. Many women experiencing homelessness have escaped a violent or abusive relationship.
• Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent.
• And for many, life events like a relationship breaking down, losing a job, mental or physical health problems, or substance misuse put people under considerable strain. Being homeless can, in turn, make many of these problems even harder to resolve. However, in nearly all cases homelessness is preventable and in every case it can be ended.

What do Crisis do?

The charity offers one-to-one support, advice and courses for people experiencing homelessness in 11 areas across England, Scotland and Wales. Their education, housing, employment and health services help people leave homelessness.

Crisis also carries out research into the causes and consequences of homelessness – and campaigns for the changes needed to end it for everyone.

We agree with Crisis that homelessness is not inevitable. With collective action and political will, we can end it once and for all.

What does HomeOwners Alliance do to support Crisis?

• Offer practical support: we make an annual donation
• Trying to prevent homelessness: we want to help reduce the risk of homelessness by providing help for those homeowners starting to struggle through our advice and content. So whether you’re struggling to pay your mortgage, wondering if you can remortgage to pay off debts or researching how to save to buy your own home and looking for help from government schemes but want to know the pros and cons, we give free, practical advice.
• Campaigning: for more affordable housing and improvements to government schemes through activities like our Better Shared Ownership Campaign.
• In 2024 our CEO Paula Higgins took on the monumental task of hiking the 5985 metres to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Crisis, raising over £1,475.

What is Crisis at Christmas?

Every year, with your help, Crisis mobilise a unique volunteering effort to provide warmth, companionship, and vital services to people facing homelessness at one of the toughest times of the year. If you want to get involved this Christmas, you can find out more about opportunities near you on their website.

There are lots of ways to get involved from making a donation to creating a virtual stocking online or buying a virtual Christmas gift for your loved one.

What difference did Crisis at Christmas make in 2023?

With the help of many generous supporters and over 3,660 dedicated volunteers, Crisis provided hotel accommodation, hub services, food and wellbeing packs for people who were experiencing homelessness last Christmas. They supported 2,648 people attending day centres in London, 578 in hotel accommodation and a further 2,378 around the country. At multiple locations across the UK, volunteers worked together to provide companionship, support and a wide range of vital services.

How can I help Crisis?

There are options for one off or monthly donations to Crisis on their website.

• £10 could provide a warm welcome at one of the Crisis centres and help someone take the first, reassuring steps to finding a safe, secure home.
• £32 could help fund one-to-one specialist coaching in housing, benefits, wellbeing and work.
• £64 could help fund one of our support workers to assist someone trapped in temporary accommodation look for affordable and settled housing.
• £100 could buy a household starter kit, filled with essentials someone might not be able to afford, to help them settle into their new home.

View other gifting options and Donate to Crisis here

Volunteer

You can also volunteer online or in person. Find out more about the roles available here.

Fundraise

There are a vast range of fundraising opportunities. Here are just some fundraising ideas.

Take part in a Crisis Icebreaker event

Fancy a cold-water challenge this Winter? Join a swim in London, Oxford or Wales, or sign up to DIY; a cold water challenge you can do wherever you are, however you like. You can find their list of events here.