As Volunteers’ Week (1–7 June 2026) begins, Nightstop is highlighting how thousands of spare rooms across the country could help provide a safe place to stay for a young person facing homelessness. New analysis of 2021 Census data shows there are an estimated 24.4 million spare bedrooms in England.
Nightstop provides emergency accommodation by matching young people in crisis with trained and vetted volunteer hosts who open up their home. Nightstop acts as an immediate safety net while longer-term support is put in place.
At a time when youth homelessness is rising, this spare room data shows us there is a real opportunity to support young people in crisis.
Increasing living costs, family breakdown and insecure housing are contributing to more young people facing homelessness. Without access to emergency accommodation, many are left vulnerable to rough sleeping, exploitation and poor mental health. Hosting is flexible, allowing people to offer accommodation around their existing routines.
Nicola Harwood, Executive Director of Operations at Depaul UK, said: “Too many young people are facing the reality of having nowhere safe to sleep. These figures show that many people have space that could make a real difference.
“Nightstop volunteers are ordinary people doing an extraordinary thing – opening their doors and supporting a young person at a critical moment.”
One Nightstop guest said: “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.”
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re asking people who have a spare room and are interested in volunteering to find out more about hosting – and how their home could help provide a safe place for a young person in crisis.