6 October 2025 | By Dave Hall
With recorded homelessness in the capital at its highest-ever level, Housing Justice is supporting more people forced into homelessness and rough sleeping.
The organisation is expanding the reach of the existing South East London Citadel project and launching Community Connectors in North and East London. Joanna Whitney, Housing Justice’s marketing and communications manager: ‘This is a much needed part of London’s response, with rough sleeping figures having increased by 58 per cent since 2014 and more than 183,000 Londoners estimated to be homeless and living in temporary accommodation. It is the highest-ever level of recorded homelessness in the capital – equivalent to at least one in 50 Londoners.’
The Citadel model, established within several communities across England and Wales since 2020, supports people who have experienced or are at risk of homelessness to find and sustain housing, integrate into a community and establish a home.
Joanna continued: ‘We have co-ordinators who recruit and train volunteers, who are matched with people referred to Community Connectors for support. The co-ordinators and volunteers then work closely with people who have been referred to establish what matters to them and provide personalised support. This might include support with finding a suitable property, decorating and furnishing their home, managing bills and budgeting, joining a social club or community group, attending appointments, or just having a cup of coffee and a chat – all led by what matters to the individual.’
Poppy Thomas, Community Connectors manager, is looking for volunteers to join her growing team.
‘We are absolutely delighted to be launching Community Connectors to give North and East Londoners a practical way that they can help to end homelessness in their communities,’ she said. ‘Volunteers play a fundamental role in building connections to help people out of homelessness for good and provide support in all sorts of different ways.’
John has benefitted from support in another Citadel community and cannot emphasise enough the importance of his link. ‘Sometimes the only reason I get out of bed is to see my volunteer,’ he said. ‘It’s the highlight of my week.’
Anyone interested in joining the volunteer teams in Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Camden, City of London, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Havering, Islington, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Redbridge or Waltham Forest, will be able to sign up at CRE 25.
- Housing Justice are on stand I5 at CRE 25
CRE 2025
See a complete list of exhibitors at CRE 25
CRE 25 is Wed 15 and Thu 16 Oct
Book your ticket here for as little as £3