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Homelessness is preventable, not inevitable. Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, with support that helps them build a secure future.
That belief underpins the work of Comic Relief and the perspective of our CEO, Samir Patel, brought to the No.10 Downing Street Rough Sleeping Summit this Monday. Joining Prime Minister Andy Burnham and leaders from across sectors, Samir took part in discussions about how we can work together to end rough sleeping and homelessness, now and for future generations.
For Comic Relief, this commitment builds on more than 25 years of supporting organisations tackling homelessness and housing insecurity. Our partners’ work has shown us the importance of acting early, listening to people with lived experience and backing trusted local organisations to provide support shaped around each person’s needs.
Investing in Young People’s Futures
We’re investing over £6 million to help tackle homelessness. This includes our Every Step of the Way programme, which supports organisations working with young people aged 16–25 who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.
Alongside help to access somewhere safe to stay, the programme supports organisations providing financial guidance, practical help and opportunities to build confidence. It recognises that lasting stability means having the support, skills and relationships to live independently and thrive. Young people’s own experiences help shape the work, so support reflects what matters to them.
The difference sustained support can make is shown in Anya’s story. After experiencing homelessness as a teenager, Anya received help from GISDA, a Comic Relief-funded organisation in North Wales. With somewhere safe to live and support to finish school, she was able to begin building a more secure future. Anya said: “Everything just feels warmer. I'm not just surviving anymore. I actually get to live.”
Sharing Lived Experience to Inspire Action
We have a responsibility to listen to the organisations we fund and the people they support. Their knowledge helps us understand where support makes a difference, where barriers remain, and how funding can better respond. Sharing that learning can help others strengthen their work too.
As a storyteller, we can help people understand the realities of homelessness and see what becomes possible when the right support is there. By sharing people’s experiences with care, we can challenge stigma, build public support, and inspire the generosity that helps sustain this work.
Monday’s summit brought these shared responsibilities into focus. Ending homelessness requires government, funders, businesses, charities and communities to work together, with people who have experienced homelessness helping to shape the response.
We’re committed to playing our part: backing trusted organisations, sharing what we learn, and helping more people understand how they can contribute.
Are you a funding partner who shares our commitment? We’d love to explore how we could work together to end homelessness - please get in touch with our Senior New Partnerships Manager Jack Robson J.Robson@comicrelief.com(opens in new window)
