The ‘Help Before Homelessness’ campaign aims to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless by focusing on early intervention support

North London homelessness charity All People All Places (APAP) has launched its latest winter campaign – ‘Help Before Homelessness’.

The campaign focuses on the early intervention support provided by the charity before individuals and families experience the “devastation of homelessness”.

APAP has highlighted the latest data showing a record high of 13,231 people were recorded as sleeping rough in the capital in 2024/25, a 10% increase on the 11,993 people seen the previous year. This is 63% higher than the number of people seen sleeping rough ten years ago, as recorded by London’s Combined Homelessness and Information Network (Chain) annual report.

Running until 31st December, this year’s APAP campaign features a series of “striking, thought-provoking signs” placed across both Enfield and Haringey boroughs. The signs are designed to highlight the hidden realities of homelessness; the bench that becomes a bed; the bus stop that becomes a bedroom.

Each sign will have a QR code that links to the stories behind the campaign. They include Anita, who came to APAP when she and her seven-year-old daughter were asked to leave their accommodation. Living in a shared house, their room was only meant for one person.

Anita was told she would soon be evicted but with nowhere else to go, she had no choice but to stay. Every day she feared that she and her daughter could end up homeless. Struggling to access help from her local authority, Anita turned to APAP who were able to support her into new accommodation by liaising with a letting agent and negotiating a reduced rent.

This winter, APAP will again be supported by a wide range of local community partners who are stepping up to take part in fundraising. Among them are the 23rd Southgate Scouts, who will be holding their annual sponsored sleepout, which helps young people better understand the challenges faced by those sleeping rough.

For a second year in a row Pymmes Park Parkrun are also fundraising and collecting essential items for those who desperately need it as temperatures fall.

APAP is led by chief executive George Dunstall, who is also a Labour councillor in Haringey, for Stroud Green ward. He said: “Homelessness continues to rise at an alarming rate, and far too many people in our community are being pushed to the brink before they can access the help they need.

“That’s why we’re proud to launch our ‘Help Before Homelessness’ campaign, shining a light on the hidden realities of homelessness and on APAPs life-changing early intervention work preventing people from ever reaching the streets.

“With generous match funding from the Aviva Community Fund, every donation will be doubled and go twice as far in helping us protect individuals and families in Enfield and Haringey from losing the place they call home.

“Together, we can stop homelessness before it starts.”

All proceeds raised through the ‘Help Before Homelessness’ campaign will directly support APAP’s frontline services. These include emergency accommodation for people sleeping rough, specialist housing advice and advocacy including support for those facing eviction, and access to emergency essentials.

Find out more about the APAP winter campaign and donate:
Visit allpeopleallplaces.org/campaigns/help-before-homelessness

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