What Does Movement Mean When You’re Homeless?
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week theme is Movement: Moving more for our mental health. For many people, moving more might mean taking a walk at lunchtime, joining a gym class, or setting step goals on their smartwatch.
But for someone experiencing homelessness, movement can have a very different meaning.
At Maggs, we work with people who often have no choice but to move — constantly walking to find food, shelter, safety, or simply somewhere they’re allowed to sit without being moved on. There is rarely time to rest, and often nowhere to go. This kind of movement isn’t about wellbeing — it’s about survival.
And that survival takes a toll.
The Link Between Homelessness and Mental Health
Homelessness and mental health issues are deeply interconnected.
Many of the people we support at Maggs have experienced significant trauma, abuse, or loss. Some are dealing with long-term mental health conditions. Others begin to struggle with their mental health as a direct result of sleeping rough — facing cold nights, fear, stigma, and constant uncertainty. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction are all common realities for those without a stable home.
Yet, mental health services are not always easily accessible — especially for those with no fixed address, limited transport options, or who struggle to navigate complex systems.
What Maggs Is Doing
At Maggs, we know that addressing mental health is just as important as offering food, clothing, or housing support. That’s why we take a trauma-informed, person-centred approach across all of our services.
- Our support workers build long-term, trusting relationships with clients — sometimes over many months or years.
- Our outreach team goes directly to those sleeping rough, checking on both their physical and emotional wellbeing.
- Our day centres offer a safe space to rest, connect, and access further help.
By listening without judgment and offering consistent, compassionate support, we help people feel seen, valued, and hopeful — often for the first time in a long time.
How You Can Help
This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re asking our community to look beyond the headlines and see the human stories behind homelessness.
Here’s how you can support:
- Donate to help us continue this vital work
- Fundraise or take on a 40 for 40 challenge to mark our 40th anniversary
- Share our posts to raise awareness and challenge stigma
- Start a conversation — mental health affects everyone, and homelessness should never be a barrier to getting help
Let’s keep moving, not just for our own wellbeing, but for a community where everyone is supported to take their next step forward.
