The fight to end rough sleeping in London is getting a helping hand from contactless technology.
Just last week, the true scale of homelessness in the capital was revealed, with 160,000 people found to be sleeping on the streets or in temporary accommodation.
Welfare changes, soaring housing costs, and a shortage of affordable accommodation mean more and more people are left with nowhere they can call home.
This has seen rough sleeping more than double in London since 2010, charities have found.
The London Homeless Charities Group is tackling this by seizing on our festive goodwill before Christmas.
The coalition of 22 charities is offering single donation points across the capital.
All the money donated will then be split fairly between the charities, helping fund all their homelessness projects.
Donating is being made easier thanks to the roll out of TAP London contactless points.
Supported by the Mayor Sadiq Khan, TAP London is a not-for-profit company hoping to improve homeless peoples lives through contactless technology.
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The TAP London points are small, secure payment points which allow Londoners to make £3 donations by card.
City Hall said a total of 35 donation points launched this week and more than 90 are set to appear across the capital this winter.
The Mayor said: Even one person sleeping rough in London is one too many, which is why Im asking Londoners to join me on my mission to end homelessness.
More: UK
Last year Londoners generously donated £200,000 to homelessness charities, and made a record number of referrals through StreetLink, which helps outreach workers find rough sleepers and offer them support.
This year, weve brought together 22 charities running homelessness projects who Londoners can give money to, both through this single donation page and through new contactless donation points across the capital.
I urge Londoners to get involved, donate, and join me in doing all we can to help make homelessness a thing of the past.
Co-founder of TAP London Polly Gilbert added: Our pockets are getting lighter. Many of us just dont carry change anymore. So we have to act quickly in creating new ways for people to give to those in need.
If we each made just one “TAP” to tackle homelessness – we could bring about radical change expanding and sustaining vital services for Londoners in need.
The 35 Tap locations can be found on their website.
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