At least 2,893 people were estimated to be sleeping rough in a single night in England in June 2023. This is a rise of 446 people since March 2023. Yet these figures don’t include statuary homelessness or those living in temporary accommodation. Nationally, we are in a housing crisis and these numbers are growing by the day.  To be classed as homeless you must either lack a secure home to live in or are unable to reasonably stay. There are a multitude of causes leading to homelessness and the most important factor is: we are all one step away.

The Lantern Trust moved into their base in 1994, built on easy and quick access to cater to the needs of the homeless. It became like a community front room, where isolated people could come and discuss their situation. Since then, the Lantern has adapted based on the experiences of people using their services, becoming a multi-agency hub, covering a range of issues surrounding homelessness including hubs for crisis, recovery, and mental health. They have their own clinical room where individuals can receive treatments, such as, dentistry and podiatry services if required. Support and outreach teams are also available to help those who are unable to meet as well as a housing and benefit teams to provide assistance, ensuring all necessities are met.

The Lantern Trust is an independent charity which gets funding from various sources including the NHS, Dorset Healthcare, the Tudor Trust, the lottery, and the Dorset Council. The Lantern would welcome any donations which will all make a difference.

Mike Graham, chief executive, said: “The Lantern offers a safe space for people, with a variety of different support services, to help people that often hadn’t had that safe space before to begin to explore what a better future can look like. So, although the premise is to offer access to a vast amount of support easily, people haven’t built up enough trust in people to begin to unpick their situation.”

To tackle this issue of homelessness, people can help by supporting these charities and volunteering. The Lantern has specially trained staff with experience to see to that everyone feels supported and heard. It’s important to be understanding and not judge someone’s situation, always being kind.