Luton charities unite for sleepout event at Luton Point as homelessness reaches record high

Across Luton, homelessness takes many forms: sofa surfing with no fixed address, families in temporary accommodation and people fleeing unsafe homes.

NOAH Enterprise, IMPAKT Housing & Support and Stepping Stones (Luton), all play a critical role in providing essential support for vulnerable individuals and families experiencing homelessness, poverty and domestic abuse.

Recent figures show just how great the demand for help has become. Over the past year, Stepping Stones Luton, which supports women experiencing domestic abuse, received 396 referrals, an increase of 46 compared to the previous year. Of those seeking help, 60% required direct support with housing or finances, with 221 women experiencing mental health challenges as a result of trauma.

Only 31 per cent of the women supported lived in their own property, and nearly half of these were still living with their perpetrator because they felt unable to leave. Meanwhile 69 per cent were living in temporary accommodation, hostels, social housing or staying with family and friends after escaping abuse. Through one-to-one practical support, Stepping Stones helps women stay safe by assisting with emergency housing, relocation or removing perpetrators from the home.

Meanwhile, NOAH Enterprise continues to provide critical frontline support for people experiencing homelessness across Luton. Between February 2025 and January 2026, the organisation recorded 36,133 attendances across its services, supporting 1,062 individuals.

Two of its core services account for the majority of visits, including the Day Centre, which saw 16,455 attendances and its Lunch Provision, which supported 12,475 visits. Together these services provide essential daily support including meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothing and emergency shelter.

IMPAKT Housing & Support has been working alongside some of the most vulnerable people in Luton for over 30 years, not just giving people a roof over their heads, but helping them deal with the trauma, circumstances and barriers that led to them needing support in the first place.

Last year, they provided around 200 bed spaces for people facing homelessness across Luton and Bedford. Of those supported, nearly a quarter had been sleeping rough and over a fifth had been sofa surfing before they came to them. 87 per cent went on to planned, positive move-ons. The charity received 1,469 referrals for just 168 available places demonstrating how the need far outstrips what can be provided.

Their domestic abuse teams supported 1,308 people last year across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Survivors often reach them at a point of crisis, fleeing with little or nothing. Their teams help them find safety quickly and stay with them through the longer, harder process of rebuilding.

As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting the community, Luton Point are hosting a charity Sleepout on Saturday 21st March, where representatives from the three charities will spend the night in the centre’s car park to raise awareness and funds for their work.

Members of the public are also encouraged to take part in the Sleepout, helping raise vital funds and gain a small insight into the challenges faced by those without stable accommodation. Anyone interested in joining can sign up here. There is also an indoor sleepout event for under 18s where families and groups can sleep inside the shopping centre and participate in activities to learn more about the challenges faced. Please note that the last day to sign up for the event is Thursday 19th March.

Lavinia Douglass, Marketing Manager at Luton Point, commented: “Supporting our local community is incredibly important to us at Luton Point and the work these charities do to help people facing homelessness and hardship across Luton is truly vital. We are proud to work alongside organisations such as NOAH Enterprise, IMPAKT Housing & Support and Stepping Stones, who provide life-changing support every day. We know that demand for the types of services these charities provide typically increase during colder months, with peaks in February and March, reflecting the heightened risks for those experiencing homelessness and poverty at this time of year."

Through initiatives such as the Sleepout and ongoing partnerships, Luton Point hopes to help raise awareness and encourage support for the organisations working tirelessly to help some of the town’s most vulnerable residents.

You can stay up to date with Luton Point via their website.