Colchester's Homeless Shelter

Debt and homelessness: CENS can help

Behind many stories of lost accommodation lies a struggle with rent arrears, benefit delays, or mounting bills. For some, just one unexpected cost — a late payment, or a job loss — can set off a chain reaction that ends in eviction. 

Downward spiral

According to StepChange, rent arrears and council tax debt are among the most common causes of homelessness. When money is already tight, borrowing to cover essentials can quickly spiral. Once people lose their home, the costs of hotels or air BnBs, transport and the extra cost of food when you can’t cook make debt even harder to escape. It’s a vicious cycle – and it keeps people trapped in crisis.

CENS help connect

At CENS, we see this every day. But we also know there’s a way out. We recently had experts from Money Ready UK come in to deliver a workshop on finances. Our trained Support Workers also help people take the first steps toward financial stability and independence. We:

  • Provide budgeting advice, helping people understand their rights and options.
  • Support residents to open bank accounts so they can receive wages or benefits securely and start rebuilding credit.
  • Work with councils and landlords to find permanent accommodation, breaking the link between debt and homelessness.
  • Provide our own move-on accommodation, with ongoing support to ensure residents keep on track.

Debt free and in a home

By combining practical money help with housing support, we give people the tools they need to move forward.

When Mark first came to CENS, he was sleeping in his car. At 42, he never imagined he would become homeless.

A year earlier, Mark had been living with his long-term partner in a rented flat and working full-time as a delivery driver. When the relationship broke down suddenly, he had to move out. With no savings and his name still on shared bills, Mark found himself paying sleeping on at a friend’s house while covering leftover rent arrears and council tax debts from the flat he’d left behind.

“I thought I could manage it,” he says. “But then the bills kept coming — and my hours at work were cut. I was using credit cards to pay off other debts. It just got worse.”

Within months, Mark’s debts had spiralled. When his friend asked him to move out, he had nowhere to go. The small amount he earned barely covered food and petrol. Mark began sleeping in his car, washing in public toilets, and skipping meals to keep up with loan repayments.

That’s when he was referred to CENS.

Our Support Workers helped Mark speak to his creditors and arrange an affordable repayment plan. Our housing team worked with the local council to find him temporary accommodation, and later supported his move into a permanent flat.

“Having someone listen, and not judge, changed everything,” he says. “I’ve got a roof, I’ve got a plan, and I’ve got hope again.”

CENS helps people like Mark rebuild their lives after crisis — tackling the root causes of homelessness through financial advice, housing support, and one-to-one tailored care.

Your support helps make stories like Mark’s possible. Donate today to help break the cycle of debt and homelessness.

CENS Essential Shopping List

  • Tea
  • Coffee
  • Sugar
  • Hot chocolate
  • UHT milk
  • Squash
  • Vgetable oil
  • Gravy granules
  • Ketchup
  • Mayonnaise
  • Salt & pepper
  • Stock cubes
  • Herbs and spices
  • Tinned fruit
  • Tinned/packet custard
  • Baked beans
  • Tinned tuna
  • Tinned vegetables & potatoes
  • Tinned tomatoes
  • Kidney beans
  • Breakfast cereals
  • Jam, peanut butter, chocolate spread
  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Men & women’s deodorant
  • Men’s razors
  • Shave gel
  • Shower gel
  • Toothpaste
  • Cloths
  • Scourers
  • Washing up liquid
  • Surface cleaners
  • Floor cleaner
  • Bleach
  • Bathroom cleaners
  • Bin bags
  • Food caddy liners
  • Loo roll
  • Washing tablets
  • AA batteries
  • NEW single duvets
  • Pillows/pillowcases
  • Single duvet covers/sheets
  • Clean/good condition towels

Please no soups!
Thank you