I'm joining fellow business leaders, business owners, execs, directors and teams as we unite to end homelessness in the South West.

I have first hand experience of this issue, from ages 19 - 23 I was homeless, my parents died in my late teens and me and my brother were evicted from a tenanted farm house, society didn't have a safety net, I was 19, legally an adult, so i surfed sofas, slept in barns, squats, garden sheds and railway stations in the long months when i didn't have university accommodation and for nearly a year after I’d graduated.

It was tough, living on the margins isn't easy, it’s cold and humiliating and I was often penniless - i occasionally had farm work to fall back on and i was lucky enough to have made really good friends who reached out and helped me get stabilised, giving me a room in Bristol, to start again. For too many who fall into distress this isn't their story, homelessness is real, homelessness is lonely and it leads to horrendous outcomes and savaged life chances. We should try to do our bit to help our society and the ones who need help.

Here are some key facts.

How many people are affected by homelessness in England?

In England, more than 274,000 people are currently experiencing homelessness. This means that one in every 206 people in the country are living without a stable home. Of course, it’s important to remember that these figures could be even higher, as many people are missed from homelessness records by being out of view.

What are the top causes of homelessness?

From economic factors, through to unexpected life changes, there are many reasons for homelessness. But over recent years, the eviction from a privately rented home has been the top cause. Short contracts, the selling of properties or increased rents can all result in sudden or unfair evictions.

How many homeless people die each year in England?

In 2022, there were an estimated 1313 homeless deaths in England and Wales a shocking 85% increase on 2019

Please dig deep and give generously – we can do better for the many people in society who suffer this issue