10th October: World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day

This year marks the 15th annual World Homeless Day.

It’s important to have a day that brings attention to a reality that’s hard to ignore, whether it’s people who are homeless on our streets, those sofa-surfing or in temporary accommodation, or people displaced by war and conflict around the world.

World Homeless Day was inaugurated on 10th October 2010, after emerging from online discussions among people responding to homelessness across the globe. Since then, it has been observed on every continent except Antarctica, in over 100 countries. Its motto is, ‘locals act locally on a global day’.

Addiction and homelessness are often twin challenges, and Kairos addresses them together. We continue to provide a process that rehabilitates and supports individuals, helping them move towards managing their own homes and the hope of a new way of life—one that offers hope, basic sustenance, peace, and a sense of worth.

Today is also World Mental Health Day, reminding us of the overlap between homelessness, addiction, and mental health. According to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities substance misuse statistics for 2022-23, 20% of people starting treatment nationally reported being at risk of homelessness within the next 8 weeks, and 54% of homeless individuals reported mental health problems.

These statistics highlight how deeply interconnected these issues are, and why services that support people holistically—addressing addiction, housing, and mental and emotional wellbeing—are vital. Homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof over your head; it’s about tackling complex inter-related challenges that keep people trapped in cycles of despair. In our 32 years of experience, simply providing accommodation isn’t enough.