UK: The latest Rough Sleeping Snapshot in England: Autumn 2023 paints a grim picture of homelessness across the nation, with a staggering 27% rise in rough sleeping since 2022. In total, 3,898 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2023. For London, the numbers are even more harrowing, accounting for one in four of all rough sleepers in England.

Here in Redbridge, the crisis is hitting particularly hard. Our borough recorded 67 rough sleepers, one of the highest counts among outer London boroughs and more than double what it was just a few years ago. Ilford town centre, in particular, has become a visible epicentre of homelessness — a painful reminder that the housing crisis, the cost-of-living squeeze, and diminishing support services are pushing more people to the streets.

In the midst of this growing humanitarian concern, one community-led initiative continues to offer a lifeline.

Juliet and Hannah Chowdhry’s Lifeline for the Homeless

Back in 2019, teenage activist Hannah Chowdhry began a simple but impactful initiative: serving meals to the homeless in Ilford under the banner of the British Asian Christian Association (BACA). What started as a small gesture of compassion has now evolved into a vital community service that supports over 75 rough sleepers and needy people 4 days every week.

The project, now led by Juliet Chowdhry, Hannah’s mother and a trustee of BACA, has become a cornerstone of hope for the rough sleeping community in Redbridge.

Operating every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and now Sunday, after repeated requests from service users, BACA’s Meals for the Homeless programme provides more than just warm and cold meals. It also distributes:

Groceries and food containers for those with limited storage and cooking access

Toilet rolls, toiletries and sanitary products for basic hygiene

Washing-up liquid and laundromat vouchers to help people maintain cleanliness and dignity

And perhaps most crucially, direct access to health and social care professionals

BACA has built relationships  with organisations such as the NHS and Via (formerly Westminster Drug Project), ensuring those they serve are connected with critical mental health, addiction, and general welfare services.

“You Saved My Life” – The Words That Keep Us Going

Juliet often shares how many beneficiaries express profound gratitude — not just for the food, but for the human connection. One rough sleeper Pinky once told her, “You saved my life. You were the only person who cared.”

These words are both heartening and heart-wrenching. They reveal the true depth of isolation and despair many people feel, and just how essential compassionate outreach remains in today’s fragmented support landscape.

A Call to Action

As rough sleeping reaches its highest levels since 2010, it’s more important than ever that local authorities, national government, and community groups work together. The work being done in Redbridge by BACA shows what’s possible when grassroots compassion meets strategic support.

But we can’t do it alone. If you want to help, volunteer, donate, or simply spread the word. The invisible crisis of homelessness is no longer invisible — it’s on our high streets, in our parks, and sadly, under our noses.

Together, we can make sure those without a roof are not left without hope.