There is an unknown number of people ‘sofa surfing’ in London. That’s people sleeping on the sofas of friends, relatives or even strangers. And this is a form of homelessness that’s hidden from the official figures. It’s impossible to know how many people are living like this and the instability can affect their health, education and the chances of getting and keeping a job.

Off Centre is a charity supporting young people in Hackney, and through their initiative The Right Track a short film has been produced to highlight the issue of sofa surfing and the experiences of young people living in this way. Sofa Surfer tells the story of a young woman from Hackney, JRC, who spent years staying on friends’ and relatives’ sofas and, once again, has nowhere to go. You can view the trailer for the film here:

Sofa Surfer Trailer from Gaelle Tavernier on Vimeo.

Visit the Sofa Surfer website to find out more about the campaign.