Architecture For Humanity UK + Crisis Helping The Homeless This Christmas

Architecture For Humanity UK + Crisis Helping The Homeless This Christmas

For 35 years the homeless charity Crisis has run the Open Christmas project to help alleviate loneliness at Christmas for London’s homeless. This year Architecture For Humanity UK has joined forces with Crisis to transform derelict buildings into welcoming and comfortable centres where people can come together to eat, socialise and celebrate. ‘Crisis will open 7 centres around London between 23 and 30 December, the shelters offer a range of services and learning and skills activities that will inspire guests and help them to rebuild their lives in the New Year. The centres are usually disused warehouses or open plan office sites. We then create sleeping and eating areas, bathrooms, kitchens and day activity spaces from the "empty shells" we have available. An army of volunteers including joiners, plumbers and electricians work flat out to transform the buildings over a three week period.’ It is this army of helpers that AFH and Crisis need to build now. They are looking for volunteers and skilled trades people, especially carpenters, who can donate some of their time to help with the building. They are also asking for donations from companies for the tools and materials that they need to transform the dilapidated spaces into homely places to spend Christmas.