Beyond World Homelessness Day

Helping more people find a settled home

World Homelessness Day on 10 October highlighted the reality facing people without a safe place to call home. For local authorities, housing providers and charities, responding to that need is part of their work every day.

At Homefinder UK, we see how the right home, alongside personal support, can help someone move forward. We also know that finding that home is becoming increasingly difficult for many households.

The reality behind the figures

The latest figures for England show the scale of the challenge. Behind these numbers are families waiting for stability and people trying to rebuild their lives without a settled home.

Living in temporary accommodation 
England | 31 March 2026 

Both figures increased compared with the previous year. Source: MHCLG, Statutory homelessness in England, January to March 2026 . Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 .

The consequences can be devastating. The Museum of Homelessness recorded at least 1,720 deaths among people experiencing homelessness across the UK in 2025, up 6.8% on the previous year. This includes people sleeping rough and those living in temporary, supported and other insecure accommodation. Each death is a reminder of why suitable housing and timely support matter.

A shared responsibility

The Prime Minister’s call for everyone sleeping rough to have a route off the streets this winter has brought renewed attention to the issue. In England, the £442 million Rough Sleeping Programme combines immediate accommodation and support before Christmas 2026 with longer-term housing and intensive support.

Delivering this ambition will take close working between councils, housing providers, outreach teams and community organisations. It will also mean ensuring that people have somewhere suitable to move on to.

Housing Justice reflected this shared responsibility through its Homelessness Sunday campaign on 4 October. With the theme “Community Cohesion”, it encouraged churches and communities to consider how they could help through volunteering, supported hosting and other local action. Its focus on belonging is relevant to anyone starting again in a new home or area.

How Homefinder UK can help

Homefinder UK works with local authorities and housing associations to help people explore housing options beyond their current area. Since 2013, we have helped more than 2,000 households move into permanent housing.

For applicants who want to consider relocation, our service opens up access to social housing across the country, alongside wheelchair-accessible homes through Accessible NOW, housing for people aged over 55 and private rented options. Availability and eligibility vary, and every move needs to reflect the applicant’s circumstances and choices.

Our case managers provide practical support throughout the process, from discussing preferred areas and suitable properties to helping with paperwork, references and viewings. Eligible applicants referred and verified by a member local authority or housing provider receive this support free of charge. Case management is not available for London properties.

Through Revive, our specialist domestic abuse relocation service, we offer enhanced support to survivors who need to move to a safer area. Revive reached 250 successful moves in November 2025, helping individuals and families take an important step towards a more secure future.

For housing associations, advertising through Homefinder UK helps available homes reach applicants outside the local area. Our team supports matching and liaison, helping providers address long-term voids while giving households more opportunities to find a home.

Source: Homefinder UK Impact Report 2024/25 .

Working towards lasting change

As part of Home Connections, our work sits alongside StreetLink, which connects people sleeping rough with local outreach support, and HOPE homelessness case management software, including its Rough Sleeper Module for local authority teams.

We want to build on this by helping more partners turn available housing into settled homes.