Hidden homelessness is often missing from the conversation when it comes to national press coverage and fundraising campaigns.

But SIFA Fireside, the Birmingham support service for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, is addressing this issue out in the open.

They have partnered with One Black Bear, the city’s leading independent creative agency, to launch a compelling "Most Homeless People Remain Hidden" campaign.

Rough sleeping is undeniably a more recognisable aspect of homelessness and is often quite rightly the subject of several fundraising campaigns across the country. However, individuals who are sofa-surfing and living in squats are often hidden from homelessness statistics as well as being hidden from plain sight. For example, since April 2023, SIFA Fireside has supported 540 people who have experienced rough sleeping. In this time, they have also supported 2,437 people living in hidden homelessness.

Founded in the 1980s, SIFA Fireside has long been dedicated to supporting adults experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in Birmingham. Their Support Centre, located in Digbeth, serves as the city's central hub for adults without a place to call home, offering a range of responsive services, including health clinics, housing advice and financial planning, as well as hot meals, showers and clean clothing.

Through the generous continued support of leading media company, Ocean Outdoor, top-quality OOH advertising space has been donated to spread this important message across the city and make the issue more visible.

To make a difference in the lives of people experiencing both rough sleeping and hidden homelessness, the public is encouraged to support the campaign by visiting sifafireside.co.uk/hidden

Here, individuals can donate and play their part in addressing homelessness in Birmingham and ensure that support is available to all those who need it.