Supporting older people experiencing homelessness

People experiencing homelessness often age faster than the general population, facing poorer health, isolation and reduced independence. Hostel living and long-term instability can further impact confidence, wellbeing and quality of life. Older people experiencing homelessness may also need more time to build trust and are more likely to require ongoing, long-term support.

Get in touch

Our housing options

How does the Older Homeless Service operate?

Cambridge Cyrenians’ Older Homeless Service provides tailored support for people aged 45 and over, helping them move into more suitable accommodation or remain safely housed and avoid a return to homelessness.

  • Supports older people to secure and maintain safe, stable housing
  • Provides personalised, respectful support that promotes independence
  • Empowers individuals to have a say in their care and support
  • Advocates for high-quality services and best practice
  • Helps reduce hospital admissions by supporting wellbeing at home and improving access to GP services

Referrals

Referrals are welcome from individuals, professionals and organisations, including self-referrals.

Get involved

£25 pays for a bed for a night

How to access our services

Access to our services is usually via referral from Cambridge City Council or partner organisations. If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the council’s Housing Advice Team is the first point of contact.

Call them today: 01223 457918.

For more advice on navigating this process, you can call our office on 01223 712501, send us an email – office@cambridgecyrenians.org.uk or  fill out the form below.

Our office is open 9-4.30pm on weekdays. If you are concerned about someone who is homeless or rough sleeping, you can inform the Street Outreach Team via the Streetlink website.

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56

people received ongoing support in our Older Homeless Service in 2025. These are all individuals we are continuing to have direct contact with.

£1000

£1,000 supports one person through our Older Homeless Service for four months.

Our housing options

How does the Older Homeless Service operate?

Cambridge Cyrenians’ Older Homeless Service provides tailored support for people aged 45 and over, helping them move into more suitable accommodation or remain safely housed and avoid a return to homelessness.

  • Supports older people to secure and maintain safe, stable housing
  • Provides personalised, respectful support that promotes independence
  • Empowers individuals to have a say in their care and support
  • Advocates for high-quality services and best practice
  • Helps reduce hospital admissions by supporting wellbeing at home and improving access to GP services

Referrals

Referrals are welcome from individuals, professionals and organisations, including self-referrals.

Get in touch with us to discuss next steps

Get in touch

From homeless to home...

Last winter, Tom* was living in conditions no one should endure. His boiler was broken, his home was freezing, and he was surviving on just a small pizza each day. Severe mobility issues made day to…

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For over 20 years, Mark’s life has been a series of ups and downs – battling addiction, spending time in prison, sleeping rough, and more recently, a cancer diagnosis. But each time he needed…

Read more

Nadia* moved to Cambridge in 2016 but struggled to keep up with work when her health declined. “I was doing live-in care work. And I kept having lots of time off from my job. Because I was getting so…

Read more
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46

people were supported by our Mental Health Service in 2025

£100

funds two counselling sessions for one individual

370 hours

of counselling was provided by our team of volunteer counsellors

How does the Older Homeless Service operate?

Cambridge Cyrenians’ Older Homeless Service provides tailored support for people aged 45 and over, helping them move into more suitable accommodation or remain safely housed and avoid a return to homelessness.

  • Supports older people to secure and maintain safe, stable housing
  • Provides personalised, respectful support that promotes independence
  • Empowers individuals to have a say in their care and support
  • Advocates for high-quality services and best practice
  • Helps reduce hospital admissions by supporting wellbeing at home and improving access to GP services

Referrals

Referrals are welcome from individuals, professionals and organisations, including self-referrals.

Get in touch

A word from our mental health nurse

Get in touch
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The project runs every Tuesday and Thursday, 10am–1pm, across six full-sized allotment plots in a central Cambridge location.

Get involved

How does the Older Homeless Service operate?

Cambridge Cyrenians’ Older Homeless Service provides tailored support for people aged 45 and over, helping them move into more suitable accommodation or remain safely housed and avoid a return to homelessness.

  • Supports older people to secure and maintain safe, stable housing
  • Provides personalised, respectful support that promotes independence
  • Empowers individuals to have a say in their care and support
  • Advocates for high-quality services and best practice
  • Helps reduce hospital admissions by supporting wellbeing at home and improving access to GP services

Referrals

Referrals are welcome from individuals, professionals and organisations, including self-referrals.

When the plants started growing, that gave me a lot of hope, strength and courage. I liked seeing the process and how much they were like me...coming back to life.
- Blisse

Want to get involved?

Get involved or find out more.

If you’d like to learn more about the project or get involved, please contact Kevin or fill out our handy form below.

Kevin Walshe

Allotment Co-ordinator
📧 kevin@cambridgecyrenians.org.uk

📞 07815 524496

£500 fully funds a week’s therapeutic allotment sessions for up to 10 people.

Donate today

Join the community

If you’d like to learn more about the project or get involved, please contact Kevin by filling out the form below.

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