10th October 2026

Today is World Homeless Day.  Homelessness impacts people across the world as war, conflict, oppression, and climate change displace people from their homes. Around 120 million people have been displaced, of which 69 million have moved within their own countries (known as internally displaced people - IDPs), the rest have crossed international borders.   The UNHCR estimates that approximately 45 million displaced people are children, representing 38% of the total displaced population.  Homelessness is found in every country.  In the USA around 750,000 people are estimated to be homeless, 350,000 in France and around 380,000 in England.  In England nearly 180,000 children live in temporary accommodation.  This means some will go to school from one place not knowing to where they will return when school finishes for the day.  It also means that many will be sharing bathrooms with others they don’t know.

The impact of homelessness on children is severe. It can be detrimental to children’s physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing. It’s harder for them to access to healthy food or hygiene products. Education is disrupted when families are constantly on the move. Children find it more difficult to develop friendships, focus in class, and find good places to study and do their homework.

Loving God, today we reflect on the thousands of families living on the margins of society, in desperate need of the basics in life, in desperate need of a place to call home. You know all their names and each situation. Remind them that they are loved, valued, and never forgotten. Protect those who sleep rough and sped each night hungry and cold.  Be alongside those who struggle with mental illness or addiction. We thank you for all who seek to help them find healing, support. Lord, teach us not to judge people whose struggles we may not understand. Help us see the dignity of every person and respond with compassion.  Guide the leaders of nations to make homelessness a key priority and to commit themselves to reducing the number of people who have no place to call home. May they work together to address all that displaces people, war, oppression, climate change, so no one need be a wanderer or feel they do not belong. Jesus Christ the Lord we pray, Amen.

Hurricane Isaias has made landfall in the US, bringing winds of more than 100mph and the risk of floods, storm surges and tornadoes. In Pensacola, Florida, charity for the homeless, Opening Doors is the area's leading agency on homelessness.  Opening Doors has been canvassing the community for days to make sure those who are unhoused know of the threat and where they can go to ride it out safely, and how to get there.  Opening Doors Executive Director Bruce Cady said ECAT has been a "great resource" offering free rides to help all residents to get to a shelter.  "Waterfront Rescue Mission has committed to serving everyone that comes to their door," Cady said. "My outreach teams also went to the city of Milton and town of Century to help homeless get to shelter." Once the storm is over and clears out of the area, Cady says street outreach teams and case managers will go to local emergency shelters and serve both those chronically homeless and newly homeless.  

You can find out more about the work of Opening Doors here.

Bread of the world in mercy broken,

wine of the soul in mercy shed,

by whom the words of life were spoken,

and in whose death our sins are dead.

Look on the heart by sorrow broken,

look on the tears by sinners shed;

and be your feast to us the token

that by your grace our souls are fed.

 Reginald Heber 1783-1826