Helping people who are experiencing homelessness isn’t just for Christmas

This January our friends at Leiho launched an urgent appeal to help people experiencing homelessness. They went beyond their usual “buy one, give one” model, where every pair of socks means someone in need receives their own fresh pair. Instead, over a weekend, they committed 100% of profits on all items bought to providing hot meals, warm socks, thermal bottles and blankets to help keep those on the streets warm.

We can’t help but big them up, really.

So, why was this appeal so urgent? Well, harsh winter weather coupled with the ongoing pandemic (and its more transmissible strain) make for a relentless duo. The ‘Everyone In’ scheme the government launched in 2020 to provide interim covid-safe accommodation to some 15,000 rough sleepers is no longer in operation, reports i News. Emboldened to do something, Leiho’s call-out on social media, below, kickstarted their winter campaign. Read on to find out the results, and why helping those experiencing homelessness is so crucial now – and throughout the year.

Over to Joey at Leiho…

Helping those experiencing homeless, no matter the month

Christmas is widely recognised as a time of giving, loving and lending a helping hand to those in need because no one deserves to spend Christmas alone. Although the festive season has a lot of positive impact on the homeless community, providing people experiencing homelessness with care and support should be an important cause of action throughout the whole year and not just during the Christmas period.

People who are homeless have long been stereotyped and stigmatised as alcoholics, drug addicts, mentally ill and sometimes even blamed for their living situation as being ‘self-inflicted’. However, there are many reasons as to why someone becomes homeless in the first place.

This could be due to losing a job, lack of affordable housing, poverty, tragic losses or even traumatic experiences with relationships such as domestic or sexual abuse. The list of reasons goes on and the challenges they face are endless. But it is important to remember that experiencing homelessness is not an identity. These people are human beings just like us. And humans require the most basic needs for survival – that includes food and water, sufficient rest, shelter, safety, clothing and care. So, the least we can do throughout the year is make them feel a sense of belonging and provide them with the most basic essentials for survival.

How can you make a difference?

Different seasons require different needs. This applies to every single human being on this planet. Simply put, during the winter when it gets cold, we put on more layers to stay warm and during the summer when it gets hot, we need to stay hydrated and sometimes stay in the shade to prevent ourselves from getting heatstroke.

But let’s start with January. January can be a pretty tough month with financial pressures, getting back to work, holiday blues, pressures of setting goals and of course, Blue Monday, known to be ‘the most depressing day of the year’. With that being said, January is also a month where the weather is also probably at its worst and the average hours of daylight aren’t long – so it can get pretty cold and lonely for those without a home. Not everyone has the luxury of owning multiple hoodies, sweaters, socks and hats to interchangeably wear to keep themselves warm. People sitting out on the cold streets with no place to go are in need of the same amount of layers you put on.

During the winter, the 5 most requested items of clothing from homeless charities are socks, hats, gloves, scarves and underwear. By giving a nice hot meal, a hot drink or some warm clothes is a simple way to make a big difference during the colder months. (Or of course, you can opt to get yourself a pair of Leiho socks because for every pair of socks sold, we give another warm pair to a homeless shelter!)

Leiho’s winter campaign

The result of Leiho’s January campaign saw them donate over 350 hot meals, hot drinks and warm winter essentials such as socks, hats, gloves and blankets thanks to purchases of Leiho products.

Meals came from local businesses such as Sapore Vero and Lucianos, as well as the Borough Food Cooperative. Plus, Rest Space London provided home cooked meals.

Looking ahead to summer

Let’s talk about summer. Experiencing homelessness in the summer is as much of a struggle as it is during the winter.

Summer in England is perceived to be quite pleasant for many, however people on the streets exposed to the sun for long periods are at high risk of dehydration, sunburn, heat-related illnesses and, in some extreme cases, death. If you’re wondering how it can possibly get to that level of extremity, just imagine someone being trapped in the heat of a tent because the sun is beaming down, the pavements are too hot and the heatwave makes it unbearable to breathe. Of course, pets are at risk too.

For those on the streets who consume large amounts of alcohol and take drugs have an even higher risk of dehydration and heat-related illnesses. So, summer is just as dangerous because a lot of night shelters aren’t open to help keep people experiencing homelessness in the shade and out of the heat.

To support this, our Leiho team ran a campaign last summer where for every Leiho bottle sold, we gave lightweight and refillable water cartons to help keep people on the streets hydrated. When distributing these cartons, not a single person turned down the offer of water. In fact, not a single charity or organisation we contacted had said water wasn’t needed so we ended up donating over 1500 water cartons in less than 2 months.

Now, let’s think of that one friend who sits out in the sun for 10 minutes and comes back completely sunburnt. Sunscreen is no doubt another essential for people experiencing homelessness during the summer. Sunscreen helps protect people that are spending long hours on the streets from getting severe sun damage on their skin. 

If you’re heading to the park to meet up with some friends and walk past someone who is homeless you can help by giving them a bottle of water to keep them hydrated or perhaps some sunscreen, a hat or even an umbrella! Whatever you need to protect yourself from the heatwave is exactly what they need for protection, too.

The Leiho point of view

We create meaning in ourselves not only by what we do for ourselves but also by what we give to others and this should apply to our everyday life. Making a difference should not only be once a year. We can make a difference everyday by being kinder to one another, lending a hand to those in need, donating to charities and supporting social enterprises that put communities at the heart of everything they do. Helping and giving also shouldn’t be something we do when we feel like it, it should be something we do when we have the opportunity in our lives to do so.

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Interested to learn more about how our brands support those experiencing homelessness?

• Fancy supporting the cause? Every pair of socks means another for someone in need
• Watch the IGTV about Leiho’s January appeal
• Discover Pivot jewellery, who provide flexible and meaningful employment to those in temporary accommodation
• Shop the Hopeful Traders x The Outside Project, supporting homeless queers