Art and Hope: Plymouth charity PATH marks World Homeless Day with powerful public installations

Two inspiring art installations celebrating hope, home, and humanity have been unveiled in Plymouth city centre to mark World Homeless Day (10 October 2025) - part of a powerful campaign by local homelessness charity PATH (Plymouth Access to Housing) to raise awareness and spark conversation about homelessness in the city.

The first installation, a striking mural titled “There’s No Place Like Home,” now brightens a central city wall as a bold reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to live. The second, a collaborative exhibition with Plymouth Artists Together, was launched at the Union Corner Artists’ Gallery, featuring contributions from local artists and residents exploring what homelessness means to them. The result is a moving collection of artwork that blends creativity, empathy, and lived experience.

Among those attending the launch were Councillor Chris Penberthy and Luke Pollard MP, who praised PATH’s initiative for combining compassion and creativity to highlight the struggles faced by Plymouth’s most vulnerable residents.

PATH, which this year celebrates 30 years of helping people find stability and security, remains at the forefront of tackling homelessness in Plymouth. In 2024–25 alone, the charity supported more than 1,700 people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, assisted 421 rough sleepers through outreach, provided prevention advice to 249 people, and housed an average of 350 individuals every night.

Across the UK, homelessness continues to rise. According to government figures, 4,667 people were sleeping rough on a single night in autumn 2024, while 131,140 households were living in temporary accommodation as of March 2025 - the highest number on record.

Victoria Allen, CEO of PATH, said: “At Path, we believe that everyone deserves the safety, dignity, and stability of a home. These art installations are a visual reminder that homelessness isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about community, compassion, and shared humanity.
As we mark World Homeless Day, we also celebrate the resilience of those we support and the dedication of our staff and partners who make change possible every day.”

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communities and Cooperative Development, added: “As Path celebrates its 30th birthday, these artistic projects are a timely reminder to everyone that homeless people are not just statistics and numbers on a page, they are real people, living real lives, who just want somewhere to call home.
“We will continue to work with PATH and the Plymouth Alliance to improve the lives of homeless households in the city both in the short-term through support services for people at the coal face of the housing crisis, and in the long-term, by supporting the market to deliver more truly affordable housing through the ambitious Plan for Homes programme.”

Local artists also welcomed the initiative. Mike Vosper from Plymouth Artists Together said: “I was delighted to be part of this important project, and I knew our members would feel the same. Their artwork truly speaks for itself.”

One artist, who wished to remain anonymous and was referred to PATH after becoming homeless last year, shared their own experience:

“I was referred to PATH in December 2024 after being made homeless. From the very first contact, the team were helpful and did whatever they could to support me. They guided me through all the forms and administration I struggle with, and even over Christmas helped me find temporary accommodation and checked in with me. Later they supported me to find a more permanent room and apply for a bursary to move my things. Since then, they’ve continued to help me work towards social housing. PATH is such a good organisation; they make you feel heard and genuinely want to help. Thanks to PATH, I have a roof over my head tonight.”

The installations reflect PATH’s ongoing commitment to tackling homelessness through practical help, personalised support, and partnerships that foster inclusion and understanding.

Founded in 1995, PATH works alongside Plymouth City Council, the Ministry of Justice, and national housing bodies to deliver outreach, prevention, and accommodation services. Its mission remains simple yet vital: ensuring everyone in Plymouth has a safe place to call home.

For more information, visit www.pathdevon.org