Looking beyond homelessness: Simon on the Streets Christmas Campaign 2024
It’s hard to believe that Christmas time is almost here again.
While many of us are preparing to spend time with our family and friends, for those experiencing homelessness, this can be one of the most isolating, distressing and dangerous periods of the year.
It’s easy to forget that homelessness isn’t simply about not having a roof over your head. It’s a multi-layered experience. So, we’re encouraging everyone to remember to look beyond the word ‘homelessness’ and address the issues behind it, including isolation, rejection, and loneliness.
To do this, we need your help.
Simon on the Streets is raising vital funds this Christmas to expand our outreach team.
Not only do we want to make sure our experienced team members can nurture their relationships, we want to place even more valuable outreach team members in the community.
Our outreach team is committed to providing support, hope, and empowerment to those facing homelessness, and we’re asking for your help and donations to support our work at Simon on the Streets.
Donate to our JustGiving page now.
This is why your donations matter.
Loneliness
When a person becomes homeless, their world can shrink very quickly. Support systems break down, instability can make forming new bonds challenging, and many individuals feel invisible to the public.
The impact of this loneliness can have a dramatic effect on a person’s self-esteem. If you feel invisible long enough, you start to believe it.
Our outreach team connects with individuals, reminding them they deserve love and care.
Rejection
No two people experiencing homelessness have travelled the same path. But many have faced rejection from loved ones and services.
Addictions, in particular, can cause families to make tough decisions, often leading to complete breakdown.
Our outreach team works closely with people to help them rebuild trust after rejection and support them in accessing appropriate services, such as healthcare and rehabilitation.
Isolation
Experiencing homelessness can be isolating in the most literal sense. Individuals can go from being surrounded by many people to finding themselves alone and isolated for most of the day and night.
Our outreach team can help people find a way back into the community. While they may still struggle with feeling lonely, we aim to ensure that individuals start to feel like they have a person in their corner again.
When someone experiences homelessness, it’s too easy to forget that they’re still a human being with thoughts, feelings and challenges. That’s why our outreach team is so critical in the community.
Our focus is not simply finding someone a room for the night. It’s about being there to offer both practical and emotional support. Whether that's taking someone for a cup of tea, helping them get to appointments, or just providing a listening ear, these things are so important, especially when tackling feelings of isolation, rejection, and loneliness.
The team provides comfort and solace for many people, and our goal for 2025 is to expand our reach.
No donation is too small to make a difference. Please consider donating to Simon on the Streets this Christmas so we can continue to tackle homelessness head-on.