These Hollywood movie stars used to be homeless as we look at how the issue affects the UK

Centrepoint, a homeless charity focused on those aged 16-25, says demand for its services has jumped since October and the number of people needing their help has doubled since the pandemic started.

This is a problem that can affect anyone. The old adage that we're only a few pay checks away from homelessness is heightened if you're not working or unable to save.

Centrepoint’s Helpline supported a record number of vulnerable young people this November – calls increased by 44% compared to last year. Three out of the last four months have broken records with the number of calls from young people facing eviction having doubled.

New analysis from Centrepoint looked at the data collected by Helpline workers who record the basic information and the reasons for homelessness, or prospective homelessness, of each caller.

It is not surprising that over the past couple of months (October-November 2022) family breakdowns continue to be the main reason for needing support.

This year, however, callers citing evictions as the reason they’re facing homelessness has almost doubled compared to the same time last year (92% increase). The charity is also concerned that the number of young people forced to sleep on the streets has increased.

Over the past couple of months more young people were calling the Centrepoint Helpline for support because they were sleeping rough. This October – November the Helpline saw a 45% increase in young callers who were currently sleeping rough, in comparison to young people who were sleeping rough in the same period last year.

Daniel Craig, Halle Berry and Sylvester Stallone have all been homeless before they found fame and fortune in movies.

The beautiful and talented Halle Berry (56) once stayed in a homeless shelter while pursuing a modelling career. According to the Current Biography Yearbook, while in New York she had no place to live so she slept in a homeless shelter and then in a YMCA until she could afford another place to live.

When you see the English actor Daniel Craig (54) playing the role of James Bond, you wouldn't think he was once homeless and slept on park benches in London until he got acting jobs.

Sylvester Stallone is the star of the Rocky series, but the life of the 76-year-old writer and actor is truly a rag to riches story.

His Rocky series was rejected dozens of times, and when they were accepted Stallone was asked not to have a starring role in them. When he was trying to get his career off the ground, he became homeless and slept at the Port Authority bus station in New York City for three weeks. To get money to survive, he sold his dog for $50. One week later, his script was sold and he bought his dog back for $3,000.

For many in the UK, getting a chance to rebuild their lives is difficult, if not impossible.

Paul Brocklehurst, Centrepoint Helpline Manager, said: “Due to the cost-of-living crisis, we expected an increase in calls to the Helpline, as young people were already making difficult choices between paying bills or buying food. But we certainly didn’t expect the numbers to skyrocket as they have done.

“This is above and beyond anything we have seen before and it’s showing no signs of slowing down - we expect more young people to need our support in the coming months.

“No one should be without a safe place to stay – particularly in this weather.

“That is why we need the government to act quickly to prevent more vulnerable people from ending up homeless by introducing pandemic-style support for rough sleepers, renters and benefit claimants.”

Centrepoint have also released tips for the public on how they can help those sleeping rough. Number one is referring them to StreetLink, which is an app, and can also be accessed via their 24 hours helpline 0300 500 0914 or website: streetlink.org.uk

The second tip is to stop and talk to the person and ask if there's anything they need. This could include food, drink, thermals, bedding, a travelcard, Vaseline or a reusable water bottle. While long-term help for homeless young people makes the biggest difference, having a conversation over a cup of tea can be really important.

Other tips are included on Centrepoint.org.uk or free phone 0808 800 0661