Homeless charity Depaul UK is raising awareness of the catastrophic cost of hidden homeless in a digital campaign created in partnership with Publicis•Poke.

The campaign asks members of the public to sleep without beds for a night to raise awareness of hidden homelessness and raise much-needed funds to help support the charity through the coronavirus crisis. 

Lockdown has been particularly devastating for homeless young people, making their lives, moving from place to place and often sleeping in unsafe situations even more precarious. The '#SleepBedless' campaign encourages people to do three simple actions: sleep bedless for one night, donate £5 to Depaul UK and nominate three other people to complete the challenge.

It comes at a pivotal time for the national youth homelessness charity, which works with 16 to 25-year-olds to help them avoid and escape homelessness. Over half (55%) of young people who have experienced hidden homelessness have been victims of some form of harm, including sexual, physical and mental abuse, while in temporary living arrangements. 

Kevin Clements, Depaul UK’s Executive Director of Fundraising & Communications, explained: “Our services, including our emergency accommodation network Nightstop, give young people the alternative to hidden homelessness that they so desperately need.”

Dave Monk, Publicis•Poke Executive Creative Director, added, “We mustn’t forget the most vulnerable through this coronavirus crisis. #SleepBedless is a way for the public to take action, raise funds for Depaul and do genuine good in a time of need.”

At a time when so many of us are distracted by our desperation to get some semblance of normality back to our lives, this campaign recognises just how perilous a situation many young people find themselves in.  A powerful reminder in lockdown and beyond of how a simple creative execution can raise awareness of the hidden and all-too often ignored struggles of young homeless people.