i've spent every new year's eve for five years running a homeless shelter

Kar has spent her last four New Year’s Eves at a Crisis hotel (Picture: Crisis)

At 9pm on New Year’s Eve,mum-of-two Kar will say goodbye to her family,and head out the door.

But she’s not off to watch fireworks or sing Auld Lang Syne with friends,instead she’s about to embark on a 10-hour shift at a homeless shelter in London.

This will be the fifth year in a row that Kar has volunteered at a Crisis at Christmas hotel — free accommodation offered by Crisis,for those facing homelessness at this time of year.

Volunteers provide a warm welcome,as well as food and a listening ear. Last year,more than 600 people stayed in their three hotels across London.

‘I keep coming back because I feel like I’m a part of something bigger,’ Kar tells Metro.

She adds that she was inspired to volunteer after going through a challenging time herself.

Kar now considers Crisis at Christmas part of her annual traditions (Picture: Crisis)

‘My eldest was a surprise baby,’ Kar shares. ‘I was quite young at the time and it was an extremely unexpected situation.

‘That was very challenging,and I felt very lucky that I’d been supported by family,’ she says.

Pregnant while still at university,Kar explains how,had it not been for both her and her partner’s families rallying together and providing support,she could have found herself in a very different situation.

She notes: ‘I could have easily ended up on benefits,waiting for housing for years. But I didn’t,I was incredibly fortunate.

‘I wanted to pay that kindness forward for people who hadn’t had that help or support like me.’

After going to an information session to learn more about volunteering with Crisis,Kar picked up her first shift in December 2006.

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In the almost 20 years since,alongside her day job as an IT consultant,Kar has volunteered for Crisis. In 2020,she began picking up the New Year’s Eve night shift.

‘For me,volunteering on New Year’s Eve is a really nice way to open the year,doing a tiny,tiny bit to help someone over the edge — it makes me feel positive moving forward.’

Crisis is providing accomodation at three hotels across London (Picture: Crisis)

What does a night shift at Crisis on New Year’s Eve look like?

Kar will arrive at the Crisis hotel at 10pm,and will stay there until 8:30 am,seeing in the New Year with the guests and other volunteers.

‘The pace is much calmer at night,’ she says. During the day,the teams host events,such as football matches,or bring in dentists and doctors to offer check-ups. In the evening,it’s about companionship.

While there might be the assumption that night shifts are more risky for volunteers – and can therefore be the hardest to fill – Kar says she always feels safe.

‘Especially as a woman,I can understand why it might seem intimidating. But Crisis have a lot of procedures that mean you never volunteer alone,they give us walkie talkies,supervise at all times,and make sure it always feels like a really safe environment.

‘The night shifts are more relevant for why I volunteer — to build connections with people,talk to people. To humanise with one another and have that community.

‘Smaller conversations can be really powerful,for a lot of our guests it’s the first time someone’s initiated that chat human to human.’

Kar says that at night,people who might be struggling to settle or feel uncertain will usually hover by the tea and coffee points,looking for a chat or some affirmation.

‘If you’ve been in a really difficult situation,to be valued and have your opinion heard and know someone is genuinely interested in your point of view,can make such a difference,’ adds Kar.

‘I’ve seen some of our guest’s walls drop and suddenly see that someone is actually interested and cares. I hope it encourages someone to ask for help again when they need it.’

The Crisis at Christmas volunteers have a major impact on guests (Picture: Crisis)

New Year’s Eve at Crisis might not involve a countdown or fireworks,but what it does do is make sure guests are well-rested so that the next few steps after the hotels close for year,are more manageable.

While Christmas Day is amazing and full of festivities,during the New Year’s Eve shifts,Kar shares how volunteers prioritise making sure every guest has utilised all the facilities while they’re still open and available.

She explains: ‘After Christmas,it’s time for us to go,“ok what’s the next step for you.” We need to try and get them appointments and the help they need.’

Kar recalls interacting with one particular guest who had been in high spirits over Christmas,wearing a festive hat every day and being ‘really happy and joyous.’

But as it crept closer to the New Year,Kar noted how he ‘became really withdrawn and anxious.’ This then prompted the night team to chat with him and as it turns out,he was really concerned about what was going to happen next.

‘We made sure we woke him up on time,got him to an appointment with the team,and he was a lot cheerier after that – a bit stronger.’

Ultimately,Kar says she continues to volunteer at Crisis because no one can ever truly know what life may throw at them.

‘I remember one year,a guest said to me,“I can’t believe you’re here,when you could be with your kid and your family.”

‘But I would love to think that someone would do this for my kid. If they were in a particular situation,I would want someone out there to help my child.

‘All kinds of things happen to people,and all kinds of situations happen. The kindness of just taking a few days and make tea and talk to people is something I hope my own child would have access to.

‘Our guests are someone’s child,and I can help.’

‘I used to walk for miles at night when I was living on the streets’

Eddie,35,stayed at a Crisis hotel in 2024,following a 10-month stretch of sleeping rough in London. Having suffered from poor mental health,he was unable to work,so left his job and then ultimately lost his home. Latest figures show that 13,000 people were seen sleeping rough in London from April 2024 to March 2025. This is almost 4x higher than 15 years ago.Moreover,Crisis found that 4,711 people were forced to sleep rough in the City between July and September in 2025.Speaking to Metro,Eddie said: ‘Getting out from that rough environment and into a better place has made me be a better person.’He adds that one of the best things about staying in the hotel is the peace and quiet. ‘I used to sleep during the days,and walk around for miles at nighttime when I was rough sleeping.’Eddie adds that volunteers like Kar have had a huge impact on him. ’I didn’t know that were so many people willing to help,especially on January 1 and Christmas Day.‘I was lucky because I met the right people. You’re surrounded with kindness and goodness,things start to change.’Following his stay at one of the Crisis hotels over Christmas,Eddie’s case worker managed to find him somewhere temporary in accommodation.Now,just a year on,he’s secured a permanent job at a train depot and has found a more stable home in private rented accommodation.Do you have a story to share?