Edinburgh Cyrenians

Who we are

Cyrenians is one of Edinburgh’s most established and respected homelessness charities, providing person-centred and innovative support for over 50 years.

Whether it's poverty, trauma, mental health, or trouble at home, homelessness is a symptom of years of being hurt and let down.

Cyrenians' unique approach aims to stop people becoming homeless in the first place rather than waiting until a crisis happens.

"You can get people off the street, but it’s a plaster on an open wound unless we change the things that put them there."

 Mark D, Cyrenians Homeless Navigator.

What we do

Our mission is to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness through learning from lived experience; by delivering targeted services which focus on prevention, early intervention and support into a home; and by influencing changes in legislation and policy.

We go on to the streets and into homes, to prisons, schools, hospitals and workplaces. We open the doors to our communal houses, our kitchens and the gates to our community gardens.

We are frontline,

face-to-face,

hand in hand,

day after day.

How we work

At Cyrenians, we address the underlying reasons why people have become homeless in the first place. 

We know homelessness impacts on the health of the nation, on the outcomes of our young people, on the life expectancies of people living in dangerous, lonely and precarious circumstances. 

We strive to stop people becoming homeless by addressing risk factors and offering support at the earliest opportunity rather than waiting until a crisis happens.