[7] According to Crisis, the charity was "founded in 1967 in response to the shocking Ken Loach film Cathy Come Home shown the previous year, and a publicity campaign led by reforming Conservatives William Shearman and Ian Macleod highlighting the plight of homeless people".

It was one of the seven charities nominated by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to receive donations in lieu of wedding presents when the couple married on 19 May 2018.

The charity also runs four temporary day centres in London for up to 4,800 people in insecure living situations.

[17] Services offered at Christmas include internet access, entertainment, food and drink, healthcare, opticians, podiatry, dentistry, natural healing and hairdressing.

"[20] In October 2011, Crisis launched a campaign to improve the assistance and support provided by Local Authorities to single homeless people.