As Volunteers’ Week begins (1-7 June 2026), Nightstop, an emergency accommodation service helping young people at risk of homelessness, highlights that there are over 24.4m spare rooms available in England, some of which could help keep a young person safe for the night.
Analysis of the most recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) census data reveals that an estimated 68.8% of households in England have at least one spare bedroom, highlighting a significant opportunity to support young people at risk of homelessness through Depaul UK’s Nightstop service.
Youth homelessness remains a growing issue across the UK as rising numbers of young people face family breakdown, insecure housing and increasing living costs. Without safe emergency accommodation, many young people become vulnerable to rough sleeping, exploitation, poor mental health and long-term homelessness.
Nightstop, which receives funding from the Postcode Lottery, provides emergency short-term accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness by matching them with vetted and trained volunteer hosts who offer a safe place to stay in their own homes. With demand for youth homelessness services continuing to rise, Depaul UK is urging more residents with spare rooms to consider becoming volunteer hosts.
The figures measure whether households are under-occupied based on the number of bedrooms available compared to those required.
Nicola Harwood, Executive Director of Operations at Depaul UK, said: “Too many young people are facing the frightening reality of having nowhere safe to sleep at night. These figures show that many people have space that could really make a life-changing difference.
“Nightstop volunteers are ordinary people doing an extraordinary thing – opening their doors and supporting a young person at a critical moment. Every volunteer host helps us support a young person so they don’t have to experience the dangers of rough sleeping or the trauma and lasting consequences of hidden homelessness.
“For some young people, pressures at home can quickly escalate during periods of financial hardship, overcrowding or emotional strain, increasing the risk of homelessness. While every situation is different, many young people share one common experience – not having the support they need at the moment they need it most.”
A young person supported by Nightstop, who wished to remain anonymous, said:
“After things broke down at home, I didn’t know where I was going to sleep. I honestly felt like nobody cared what happened to me. Staying with a Nightstop host gave me somewhere safe for the night and a chance to breathe and think about what to do next.
“My host made me feel welcome straight away. It wasn’t just having a bed for the night, it was knowing someone cared enough to help me when I was at my lowest. That support stopped things from getting even worse and helped me get back on my feet.
“I think people don’t realise that homelessness can happen to young people really quickly. Having someone open up their spare room, even for a short time, can make a huge difference.”
Nightstop hosts and guests are carefully vetted. Hosts are fully trained and supported by Depaul UK staff, and they can offer accommodation as many times as they choose, making it a flexible opportunity that fits around their existing routines – work, and family life.
This Volunteers’ Week, Depaul UK is encouraging individuals, couples and families to consider becoming hosts if they have a spare room.