Campaign to help end homelessness across the North East and Teesside

Changing Lives is launching its Christmas appeal called "Not My Dream"

Author: Karen LiuPublished 6th Nov 2024

A campaign has started to help end homelessness across the North East and Teesside.

Changing Lives, a leading UK charity committed to tackling homelessness, is launching its urgent Christmas appeal titled "Not My Dream."

It says the campaign highlights a stark reality: none of us dream of being homeless as children, yet thousands across the UK are facing that harsh reality daily. This Christmas, Changing Lives is urging the public to support their appeal, aimed at providing critical resources to those most in need.

The growing crisis of homelessness

The charity says statistics released in December 2023 reveal a 'distressing figure': over 309,000 people in England spent last Christmas without a home, including almost 140,000 children.

Based on Government figures from October 2024 in the North East, the number of households presenting to their local council as homeless in 2023/24 was 10,770, a staggering 31.3% increase from previous years.

As the holiday season approaches, the pressures on families and individuals without stable housing are greater than ever.

Stephen Bell, CEO of Changing Lives, said: "This Christmas, no one should be dreaming of safety, warmth, or a roof over their head.

"We have been helping people facing some of the most challenging circumstances for 50 years, now supporting over 15,000 people each year. For those facing homelessness we work to ensure that what they are going through is rare, brief and non-recurring.”

Changing Lives has support centres all over the North East and Teesside, including Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

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