What is Crossways?

Crossways is our winter emergency accommodation project for rough sleepers in Cambridge, providing twenty rooms for those who would otherwise be on the streets, plus three emergency pop-up beds during SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) periods.

Open from November until April, each guest has their own furnished room. We encourage them to make the space feel like their own. Every guest has private bathroom facilities. Most have an en-suite shower room with sink and toilet. We provide them with essentials such as toiletries and underwear upon their arrival and throughout their stay.

Every evening, a two-course meal is available to guests. These are either prepared by our dedicated volunteer team or by support organisations within the business community. Guests are welcome to eat with others around the table, sit in the communal lounge, or take the meal to their rooms. They are also free to prepare simple meals for themselves throughout the day in the communal dining area.

Looking through an open door at a bed with towel and flannel on the quilt, waiting to a resident to arrive
A small writing desk and chair with bookshelf above and window at the back in a room in Crossways
View of three sofas, coffee table and large, wall mounted TV in the Crossways lounge
Looking from one of the sofas towards the large dining tables in the communal area at Crossways
Looking along the corridor with doors into bedrooms on either side. A large photo of an elephant on the wall to the right
Hostas and garden tables in sunshine at Crossways
View of the garden at Crossways looking towards the Annex. There are three garden tables and the pergola is in the right hand corner of the photo
Two long dining tables decorated for Christmas dinner with lights and crackers

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What People Say About Crossways

“The staff are absolute diamonds. They bend over backwards to help you. I’ve got all my confidence back and feel that I want to live again.”

Crossways Guest

“I don’t know what I would do without all the support you have provided. I feel so lucky to have been able to start my journey at Crossways.”

Crossways Guest

“Ending homelessness in Cambridge isn’t a task for one organisation alone, it’s a shared responsibility. Crossways is a fantastic example of collaboration, providing accommodation and support, thus offering the stability to enable people to leave the streets for good”.

Simon Penn , Cambridge City Council

“Thanks for all the amazing work you do and how well you treat us volunteers”.

Gwen , Volunteer

“Volunteering at Crossways felt like being part of a family. It was a great way to learn new skills, have fun and make a real difference. I would definitely recommend it and hope to be back next winter”.

Jack , Volunteer

“It has been a real inspiration to see some of the guests willing to lend a hand in the kitchen. People come to Crossways in difficult situations, but I met people with a desire to leave the past behind a build a new life”.

Ben , Volunteer

“It was a pleasure to spend time with your team and speak with residents about oral health. Learning more about the support you provide for people experiencing homelessness was inspiring”.

Shelley Belgrove , Clinical Director and co-founder at Well:o

Crossways Stories

  • Brian

    ‘Brian’ is in his 50s and had stayed at Crossways during a previous winter. He then moved on into a shared house.  While in the shared accommodation he [...]

  • Steve

    Steve, now in his 40s, has been a long-established presence on the streets of Cambridge. On several occasions over this time, he was the victim of intimidation and [...]

  • Roy

    'Roy' arrived at Crossways in November 2025, having fled from another region due to serious threats of violence. Upon arrival, he was anxious, depressed, untrusting and struggling to [...]

  • Nathan

    'Nathan' is in his late 30s and grew up in a difficult home situation. Other family members had experienced homelessness, and Nathan found himself sleeping in a tent [...]

  • Helen

    'Helen', now in her mid-30s, had grown up in a dysfunctional family. Her parents had introduced Helen to drugs whilst in her teens, and she was often in [...]

  • Jenny

    'Jenny' is in her 50s and in 2023 had been living in specialist shared accommodation where she was receiving support for some mental health challenges. Her behaviour was [...]