Sheffield is a city known for its friendly people and welcoming communities, but like many cities in the UK, Sheffield has a growing homelessness crisis.
A recent study by the national charity Shelter revealed over 382,000 people were experiencing homelessness over the Christmas period in 2025. At The Project we’re asked often why the number of people experiencing homelessness has risen so drastically in the last few years, which in truth doesn’t have a simple answer, but the lasting effects of Covid, continuing cost of living crisis and lack of affordable social housing have all been significant contributing factors.
When we hear the world ‘homeless’ we often think of a person sleeping in a doorway or on a park bench, but the reality is homelessness can look very different from person to person. The different types of homelessness can include:
- Street homelessness – This is when someone sleeps outside, for example on the streets, in doorways, parks or other public spaces.
- Temporary accommodation – Some people who are experiencing homelessness may have to stay in temporary accommodation. This could include a hostel, hotel or bed and breakfast.
- Sofa surfing – This is when someone is forced to move between friends or family members, staying on different sofas or spare rooms. Although they may have somewhere to sleep, they still don’t have a stable or permanent home.
- Hidden homelessness – This refers to people who are homeless but may not be visible to services or the wider public. They might be staying with friends, sleeping in places that aren't suitable for living, or moving between different temporary arrangements. Women are more likely than men to be affected by hidden homelessness, with nearly 65% of women surveyed in the 2025 Rough Sleeping Women’s Census saying they had slept in places excluded from official homelessness counts, including buses, A&E waiting rooms and public transport, or staying awake through the night to avoid violence, exploitation and sexual assault.
How people can help:
- Donate items
Donating useful items can be a simple way to help. Local organisations may need things such as warm clothing, toiletries, non-perishable food, sleeping bags and other essential items. It’s always worth checking with the organisation first to see what they currently need, as this can change.
- Donate money
Financial donations allow charities to use money where it is most needed, whether that’s providing food and essentials, supporting someone with finding accommodation, or helping people access longer-term support.
- Volunteer your time
There are opportunities to volunteer with local charities and community organisations, from helping with day-to-day activities to supporting fundraising and events. Volunteering can also be a great way to learn more about homelessness and become more involved in your local community. Check out Voluntary Action Sheffield
- Report rough sleeping to Streetlink
If you see a person rough sleeping, please consider using Streetlink to make a report, once this has been submitted, the report goes straight to local outreach teams who will try to make contact with the person and offer appropriate support.
Where to get help in Sheffield:
Help us Help is a collaboration of local charities and services based in Sheffield. Their website brings together useful information about homelessness and the support available across Sheffield, including
- Where to find emergency accommodation and support
- Advice for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Information about local food banks and food support
- Support with housing and finding somewhere to live
- Information about health and wellbeing services
- Ways to get help if you are sleeping rough
- Local organisations and charities that can provide further support
