08:00, 21 January 2026
Words by Cheyanne Bryan, Editorial and Campaign Marketing Executive, London
A recent report by housing and homelessness charity Shelter shared that currently in the UK there are at least 382,000 people who are unhoused. As winter temperatures drop, that statistic takes on an even more urgent meaning.
As temperatures plunge and winter tightens its grip, the reality of homelessness becomes even more stark. For people sleeping rough, exposure to cold nights isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be life-threatening. Hypothermia, frostbite and respiratory illness are real risks for those without shelter, and emergency support services across the UK are being stretched to breaking point.
In many major urban areas, homelessness has climbed sharply. London alone accounts for over half of the recorded homelessness in England, with regions outside the capital — such as Slough and Manchester — also showing significant numbers of people living without a home. These figures reflect broader pressures on housing supply, rising rents, and limited affordable accommodation, a crisis that intensifies in cold weather.
Cold weather dramatically increases the risks faced by people sleeping rough. Freezing nights bring the threat of hypothermia, frostbite and serious respiratory illness, while access to warm shelter remains limited in many cities. In parts of London such as Newham, around one in every 61 people is homeless, highlighting how deeply the housing crisis is embedded in urban life. As temperatures fall, the danger rises.
While long-term solutions like affordable housing are essential, immediate action during winter can save lives. Across the UK, charities are providing both emergency support and longer-term help.
Shelter continues to campaign for systemic change while offering advice, emergency assistance and legal support to people facing homelessness. Youth homelessness charity Centrepoint focuses on supporting young people through safe accommodation, mental health care, education and employment pathways — support that is especially critical during winter months.
At street level, grassroots organisations such as Hands On Hands Out distribute winter kits filled with essentials including hats, gloves, socks, sleeping bags and hot food. These practical items can be life-saving during cold snaps.
Social enterprise Change Please Coffee combines immediate relief with long-term impact, training people experiencing homelessness as baristas while supporting them into housing and stable employment. Its model shows how dignity, skills and income can be part of the solution.
The crisis is not confined to the UK. In the United States, organisations like the Coalition for the Homeless in New York and the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority provide winter shelters, outreach services and emergency supplies during periods of extreme cold. Nationally, the National Alliance to End Homelessness works to expand evidence-based strategies that prevent homelessness before it starts.
As winter deepens, the work of these organisations shows what solutions-focused action looks like: protecting people from the cold today while building pathways to stability tomorrow. Behind every statistic is a human life, and thanks to charities combining compassion with practical solutions, thousands are being kept warm, safe and supported through the harshest months of the year.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Shelter. A leading UK housing and homelessness charity working to defend the right to a safe home. It supports people facing homelessness through advice and legal services, while campaigning for long-term solutions to the housing crisis. Learn more here.
Coalition for the Homeless. A US-based advocacy and direct-service organisation dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness in New York City. It provides emergency support, housing assistance and policy advocacy to address the root causes of homelessness. Discover their work here.
Habitat for Humanity. An international non-profit working in more than 70 countries to help people build or improve a place to call home. The organisation tackles housing insecurity by supporting safe, affordable housing and advocating for housing rights worldwide. Find out more here.
This positive news article aligns with the UN SDG No Poverty, Sustainable Cities and Communities.
