Crisis Provides Christmas Cheer For Lonely And Excluded

Crisis today opens its nationwide network of Christmas services, which seek to help combat the exclusion and isolation of homeless people, as new MORI research reveals that unemployed people, state pensioners and low-income earners are more likely to spend Christmas alone.

Shaks Ghosh, Crisis chief executive said,

"While shocking this news hardly comes as a surprise to Crisis as it mirrors our own experience of running services over Christmas for homeless people -- one of society's most excluded groups. All of our services bring with them warmth, companionship and some festive spirit, making the Christmas period a less lonely and isolating time for Britain's homeless people and those who are alone. Over 5,000 people will use our projects this year to combat loneliness and hunger over Christmas as well as seeking refuge from cold nights on the street."

The research shows that:

• 3 in 50 people in the lower social classes* have spent 25th December alone compared to only 1 in 50 in the higher social grades
• Those on the lowest incomes are far more likely to have experienced loneliness at the weekend than other groups in society
• Those in the South East / East Anglia (excluding London) are more likely than those in the South West to have gone a full day without speaking to anyone.
• 14% of people on low income / unemployed and 20% of the elderly have gone a full day without speaking to anyone.

Q Which, if any, of these situations have you experienced in the last year?

The twenty-nine Open Christmas shelters, day centres and outreach services will open their doors between 23rd-30th December to provide a safe and welcoming environment for homeless people and the chance to access warm clothing, a hearty meal and companionship.

Many will also offer essential services such as doctors, nurses, chiropodists, dentists, opticians, housing and resettlement and employment advisors, hairdressers, masseurs, provision for pets, entertainment and arts and crafts.

Shaks Ghosh continued,

"Our recent qualitative research Changing Lives also found that people marginalised are becoming increasingly lonely and that loneliness is a not just a concern at Christmas."

Crisis Christmas services open as research shows more people are lonely

"There's days when I just don't see anyone. I just sit in me room, watch TV or drink coffee all day." Peter, resettled through the Rough Sleepers'

Initiative, Changing Lives interviewee.

"I still get a bit lonely. In a hostel you have people around you all the time. Do you see what I mean? If it's a bad evening, I come back early, I wouldn't go out again. So you're on your own."

William, resettled through the Rough Sleepers' Initiative, Changing Lives interviewee.

The Crisis Open Christmas network operates in partnership with local groups throughout the UK, many in areas where there is little or no provision for homeless people. Projects are as far apart as Aberdeen and Chichester; Cardiff and Chelmsford with five London services run direct by Crisis, the national charity for single homeless people.

In total Crisis will provide 73 winter services for homeless people this winter. On 1st December 43 projects opened throughout the UK providing a wide range of services through to 31st March 1999. Crisis operates five shelters in London direct and a cold weather shelter with funding from the ODPM (DTLR). Please contact the Crisis press office direct for a list of regional contact details for night shelters, day centres and outreach services, and information on the London projects.

DONATIONS HOTLINE: 0800-038 48 38

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people -- those with no legal right to housing. It researches, develops and partners schemes to provide help where it is most needed, at whatever stage of homelessness, from emergency help on the streets, through to hostel accommodation, permanent housing and resettlement support..

Crisis would like to thank the following organisations for providing buildings for the London Open Christmas this year:

• Southwark Council
• Mount Anvil Construction Ltd
• Hyde Housing Association
• London Borough of Greenwich
• University of Greenwich.

Technical details

• The research was carried out among a representative, quota sample of 1,947 adults, aged 15+.
• Interviews were conducted face-to-face in people's homes and using CAPI technology.
• Fieldwork was conducted between 20-23 November 1998, across 154 sampling points across the UK.
• * Definitions of social grades as used by the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising.
• Full definition available from Crisis or MORI.
• Results are weighted and edited