Demand for help from a homeless charity has nearly doubled already this year.
At Home in Guernsey said it had supported 104 people so far this year, compared to 125 for the whole of last year.
Support Worker Caitlin Duquemin said the charity was “deeply concerned by the rise in islanders coming to us in crisis”.
She said: “While we recognise that some of this increase reflects growing awareness of our service, there is no doubt the number of people seeking support because they are experiencing – or at risk of – homelessness is growing and is likely to continue to do so.”
The charity said people had reported a wide range of circumstances to it, including people having to leave winter lets, being evicted, and sleeping in vehicles.
Evicted aged eighty
At Home in Guernsey said one man, who was in his eighties, was referred to the charity after he received an eviction notice.
While the charity was able to help him arrange to extend his stay one month at a time, his situation was “unstable”.
A spokesperson said the charity was “supporting him to secure alternative accommodation”, but his age and mobility meant suitable options were “extremely limited”.
Forced to live with ex
Another person was forced to move in with an ex after having to leave their winter let because various “incidents” left them feeling unsafe.
Their situation has been damaging to their mental health, and they’ve been told to expect a long wait for stable accommodation.
Call for help
The charity, which was set up in 2024, provides tailored support to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including advocacy, signposting, emotional support, and help navigating housing options.
A spokesperson said it was “calling for continued focus on the housing challenges islanders are facing, and for ongoing community and government collaboration to ensure everyone has access to safe, secure and appropriate accommodation.”
Last year Deputy Steve Williams, President of Housing, said the States needed more data to understand the scale of the island’s homelessness problem.
LISTEN:
At Home in Guernsey CEO Charlie Cox spoke to Express news editor Laura Clayton about the work the charity completed during 2025 and what was coming next.
