Our impact

updated 7 June 2019

Glass Door shelters and support services are open to all, providing a safe place to sleep, advice and daytime services for those with nowhere else to turn. Thanks to our partnerships with churches and drop-in centres in West and Southwest London, we provide shelter and the support needed to end someone's chapter of homelessness. Our night shelters save lives, and our support programmes change lives.

The numbers

Between 1999 and 2019, about 5,000 individuals have found shelter and a warm welcome in a church-based shelter run in partnership with Glass Door.
In the winter of 2018-2019, a total of 700 individuals (age range 17 to 83) found shelter across 29 church shelters in our network. The total number of individuals accessing a Glass Door shelter increased from 643 last winter, in part thanks to our Richmond circuit extending support across the whole winter.
Volunteers cooked and served over 29,745 dinners in 2018-2019 (up from 22,165 dinners in 2017-2018).
In partnership with five drop-in centres, a team of caseworkers work year-round to help get people back into independence. Between June 2018 and April 2019, 59 guests found work and 204 of our guests moved into housing (compared to 80 into work and 188 into housing in 2017-2018).
Of the 85 that we helped into housing in 2015-2016, 70% were still in housing a year later. This statistic is getting even better as we are now supporting guests after they've been housed.
Staff and volunteers welcome guests and eat meals together in our church shelters, helping to give a renewed sense of dignity. On average 70% percent of guests "strongly agree" or "agree" to feeling more optimistic about the future since staying in the Glass Door shelters (according to data from our anonymous survey 2015 - 2019). Said a guest in his forties:

Above all, I feel more confident and positive.

The Glass Door Theory of Change

When basic needs are provided for in combination with casework and specialist support through partner oganisations, guests are able to harness their motivation and take control of their lives. We aim to help guests achieve the ultimate goal of independent futures with a safe and stable place to call home.

More information

Download The Twenty Year Review, printed in April 2019.
Find more information about our statistics in our online end-of-year 2018-2019 report: "Demand for services highest in charity's history".
Download our most recent annual report.
Read our blog on measuring outcomes.

Play a part in what we achieve by donating / fundraising /volunteering

Latest

Rebecca Slater is fundraising to give others shelter and support

I am raising money to save and change the lives of people experiencing homelessness, because nobody should have to sleep on the streets. Glass Door is a fantastic charity, that provide food, shelter and comfort to the people that need it the most.
A winter's tale

Severe weather can take its toll on the best-laid plans at Glass Door’s winter night shelters. Shelter manager Ben had an unforgettable night when snowfall brought havoc to central London.
Gesche Basile is fundraising to give others shelter and support

Instead of receiving, birthday presents, I am raising money to save and change the lives of people experiencing homelessness, because nobody should have to sleep on the streets.
Julia Reichert 40th Birthday Fundraiser

I've recently got involved with Glass Door Homeless Charity and could see first hand what amazing work this charity is doing to change the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Instead of buying me a present for my birthday, please donate to Glass Door.

About us

Guests find shelter in winter and year-round support to move beyond homelessness.
Things we need

Our partners are often in need of clothes, toiletries, towels and other items, which are redistributed to men and women in need.
Daytime support

Find a place to take a shower, eat, visit a clothing bank, do laundry and get advice.
Volunteer at a night shelter

We are not currently recruiting volunteers for the shelters, but we encourage you to register to find out more when a new opportunity arises.
Find Help

If you or someone you know is facing homelessness, here's how we can help.
Richmond shelters open

First shelters in Richmond launched.
Our partner venues

Venues, mainly churches of a different denominations, partner with Glass Door to host night shelters and and our day-time support services.
If we can't offer a space in the shelters today

Places in our emergency night shelter are limited. What do you do while waiting for a place to open up?
The problem

Central London has some of the biggest statistical differences between the richest and poorest residents. Unfortunately, demand for our services shows no signs of abating.
Sleep Out 2017 biggest yet

We did it! Thanks to everyone involved, more people will find shelter this winter.