In the cities of Europe and North America it is a problem on the rise with solutions that are piecemeal at best. Now a group of charities, inspired by the vision of St Vincent de Paul, is driving a global strategy to catch those in crisis and help them climb out of homelessness Because there was no room at the inn: few phrases are so resonant of the Nativity story. It is also a reminder of those for whom there is never room – the people enduring homelessness. Homelessness requires more than just a donation at Christmas, however welcome it is. It needs a year-round response, from helping people with their immediate problems to understanding the causes, common symptoms and possible solutions to homelessness. It is too easy to think that it is such an intractable problem that it is im