Gloucestershire continues to face growing pressure on housing and homelessness services, as demand for safe and secure accommodation remains high.
New figures from YMCA Cheltenham show that the charity provided more than 100,000 nights of emergency accommodation in the past 12 months, more than double the 47,000 nights five years ago.
The organisation, which been supporting vulnerable people across the county since 1855, disclosed the figures from its latest Annual Impact Report at its 170th Annual General Meeting, held at Hatherley Manor this month.
Between 2025 to 2026, the charity helped 652 people through its housing services, including 116 families, 78 children and 55 young people aged 16-24. It also coordinates FEED Cheltenham, supporting six independent community pantries, which fed 51% more households last year compared to the year before, including 1,338 children and 2,695 people overall.
The figures come as homelessness continues to place increasing pressure on communities across the South West. Latest Government data shows that in the first three months of this year 3,940 households in the South West were at risk of homelessness, a 21% increase from the three months before, including 73 in Cheltenham and 164 in Gloucester. This is against a national backdrop of 39,200 households assessed as being threatened with homelessness during the same period, up 1.8% on the previous year.
The UK’s homelessness epidemic has also come into the spotlight in recent weeks with, Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, pledging £442 million funding to end rough sleeping by Christmas.
Joseph Main, Chief Executive of YMCA Cheltenham, said: “The challenges facing our local communities are continuing to mount. We saw a 6% rise in the number of residents going through our PATHWAY HOME programme last year, helping them off the streets or to overcome challenging situations, to once again connect with society and live independently through our supported accommodation.
“While every number represents an individual person or family facing difficult circumstances, our figures also show the incredible resilience of our community and the impact that early intervention and sustained support can have.”
In August this year the Government committed £39 billion to boost the delivery of social and affordable homes over the next 10 years, with an ambition to build 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament.
Joseph added: “We are seeing continued demand across our housing and community support services, from people at risk of homelessness to families struggling with the cost-of-living. Through our accommodation, PATHWAY HOME programme and our partnership led FEED Cheltenham service, we are committed to ensuring people receive the support they need not just to get through a crisis, but to build a more positive and independent future.”
Key YMCA Cheltenham 2025/26 Data highlights 2025/2026
- 101,470 nights of accommodation provided.
- 652 people supported through housing services.
- 116 families housed in accommodation.
- 78 children and 55 young people accommodated.
- 89% positive progression rate through the charity’s PATHWAY HOME programme.
- 70% moved into a positive destination after leaving YMCA Cheltenham.
- 1,647 households supported through FEED Cheltenham, up 51% year-on-year.
- 1,338 children supported through FEED Cheltenham.
- 2,695 people supported through FEED Cheltenham services.
