NATIONAL charity Alabaré is asking local communities to help them support the increasing number of people at risk of being homeless this Christmas and winter.

The Salisbury-based charity, which has homes and services for homeless and vulnerable adults and young people across the south, south west of England and Wales, says that they are deeply concerned that the impact of this year’s lockdown on mental health, jobs and private tenancies is leading to a rise in the number of people facing the crisis of losing their home.

Andrew Lord, chief executive officer of Alabaré said: “As a charity protecting disadvantaged people who often have underlying health conditions, we are extremely grateful that we’ve been able to keep our residents safe and well through this devastating pandemic.

“But the truth is that we are only just starting to see the impact of the lockdown measures we’ve understandably had to take as a society, but which in turn are causing massive damage to livelihoods and mental wellbeing.

“With redundancies at their highest level for more than a decade, it’s estimated that over 55,000 eviction notices have already been served and around 220,000 private renters have fallen into arrears.

“Added to the ongoing impact on people’s mental health, the indications are that tragically more people will face losing their homes this winter than we’ve seen before. Each person in this crisis urgently needs a home and support to stay safe, and to start to rebuild their life. We must be here and ready to help them.”

Alabaré has supported disadvantaged and homeless adults and young people for 30 years. Throughout the pandemic, their teams have been ensuring care and support are available to those who are vulnerable and in need.Since March Alabaré have supported over 1,000 clients.

They have adapted their homes, and opened new initiatives including a catering van, to ensure they could keep their services open when some other support providers have had to close.

Vanessa Bedford, Alabaré's lead operations manager, explains why the charity needs help now: “It is essential that we here to help those in the UK who find themselves facing the unimaginable nightmare of losing their home this winter.

“No one ever thinks this crisis will happen to them, but if it does, we must be there to help them, to give them a home, and the vital support they need to help them rebuild their lives once more. Together we can be the difference that means they never have to face this crisis again.

“As a charity we rely on the generosity of the public to make some of our vital, life changing, help possible.

"We are urgently asking people to support our Christmas campaign, and help us be there in the critical months ahead.”

For more information about Alabaré’s campaign, go to www.alabare.co.uk