06 Oct 2026
Every year, hundreds of people from across the district give up the comfort of their beds for one night and take part in the St Albans Sleepout. It provides an opportunity to stand in solidarity with local people facing housing crises and raises vital funds that help them rebuild their lives.
One of those young people is Eva – a young person supported by Herts Young Homeless.
Eva’s childhood was marked by trauma, abuse and instability. Growing up, she experienced violence, neglect and emotional abuse from a very young age. School was often interrupted and she was told to stay silent about what was happening at home.
At just 15 years old, Eva made the brave decision to escape. Eva spent several years in care placements before moving into a hostel.
Determined to build a better future, she found employment and started looking ahead.
But years of trauma had left her struggling to trust others, and she kept her experiences hidden for fear of not being believed.
When Herts Young Homeless began supporting Eva, she had no family or friends she could rely on. Facing homelessness once again, she needed both practical help and emotional support.
Herts Young Homeless’ outreach team worked tirelessly to advocate on her behalf, ultimately helping her secure safe temporary accommodation. They also referred her to specialist counselling services, supported her with her finances, helped address debts that had built up and encouraged her to seek medical support for her mental health.
Building trust took time.
After everything Eva had endured, opening up to another person felt impossible. But through consistent support, she gradually began to share her experiences.
Reflecting on their relationship, her outreach worker said: “It was humbling to know that Eva trusted me.”
Together with support from other local charities and organisations, Herts Young Homeless helped transform an empty property into a home, ensuring Eva had everything she needed to feel safe and secure as she started the next chapter of her life.
Her support worker reflected: “As an outreach worker, I couldn’t change the awful things that Eva had been through, but I was able to show her that the world does still have people out there that genuinely care and believe what she had to say.”
Sadly, Eva’s story is not unique. Family breakdown remains one of the leading causes of youth homelessness, and many young people arrive at hyh having experienced trauma, abuse or neglect. The difference between a young person falling through the cracks and finding a path forward often comes down to whether support is available when they need it most.
That is why events such as the St Albans Charity Sleepout are so important.
The funds raised help Herts Young Homeless and four other local charities provide emergency support, education and outreach services that enable local people to access safe
accommodation and begin rebuilding their lives. They help ensure that when a young person like Eva reaches out for help, someone is there to answer.
This November, participants in the St Albans Sleepout won’t just be spending one night outdoors. They’ll be helping to give vulnerable local people the safety, support and hope they need to build a brighter future.
Sleep out. Fundraise. Make a difference locally.
Find out more and register now at www.stalbanssleepout.org.uk or email events@hyh.org.uk for more details.
