Love Island star Kaz Kamwi teams up with Shelter to put the housing emergency out of fashion

Love Island star Kaz Kamwi recently visited housing charity Shelter’s boutique store in London King’s Cross for an exclusive fashion shoot to help raise awareness of the housing emergency.  

The television star was pictured alongside Krystalrose, an aspiring singer who was supported out of homelessness last year by Shelter. The pair browsed the rails and modelled a range of high-street and designer finds from the shop including designs by Versace, Jaegar, H&M and Zara. 

All proceeds from Shelter’s charity shops help the charity in its fight for home. As well as campaigning to end the housing emergency, Shelter also provides expert advice, face-to-face support and legal guidance to people, like Krystalrose, who are facing bad housing or homelessness. 

Kaz, aged 27, teamed up with Shelter to learn more about the housing emergency and to hear first-hand from Krystalrose about how the charity helps people to fight for a home. Shelter’s work has never been more important with more than 274,000 people homeless in England and on average 1,000 calls to the charity’s national emergency helpline a day. 

With living costs rising and 45% of private renters more worried about becoming homeless, the public can support Shelter’s work to end the housing emergency by shopping at their local Shelter boutique store or charity shop.  

Speaking about her visit, Kaz Kamwi said: “I’ve always been interested in learning more about homelessness. When I was younger my mum used to volunteer at a soup kitchen and sometimes I would go with her, but I didn’t realise the extent of the problem. Meeting Krystalrose has opened my eyes to the housing emergency – anyone can become homeless through factors that are out of their control and Shelter helps people in so many ways. I had no idea that they have an entire team dedicated to teaching DIY skills so that people who have been homeless can make their new place feel more like a home. Shopping at their stores is an amazing way to help the charity continue to fight homelessness and bad housing.” 

Krystalrose, 27, first experienced homelessness when she was pregnant with her daughter, now aged three. Krystalrose and her daughter were facing homelessness again last year when their landlord evicted them for no reason. Unable to find another home, Krystalrose and her daughter got help from her local council to find another private rental, which she had to accept without viewing the property. Once they moved in, Krystalrose received support from Shelter’s DIY Skills Adviser Service to make her new flat feel more homely for her and her daughter.   

Krystalrose said: “My day with Kaz at the Shelter boutique was amazing - it felt like I met the sister I never knew I needed. It’s so important that people like Kaz raise awareness of housing issues because unless you’re in a difficult situation, you won’t understand how awful it can be. Having such a huge platform to raise awareness is great as people who follow her might be dealing with bad housing and won’t realise what help and opportunities are out there to support them.” 

Kaz added: “I loved Shelter’s boutique. It’s very well laid out and has so many items that are in fabulous condition and are affordable too. Krystalrose and I had so much fun shopping together. Who doesn’t enjoy getting dressed up and strutting their stuff? It was also a really good way to get to know more about her. Clothes and fashion bring people together.” 

Shelter has over 80 charity shops across the UK, and more than 2,000 volunteers who help run them. The charity also has an online shop where you can browse their curated range of second-hand clothing and accessories, merchandise and gifts. Visit shelter.org.uk/support_us/shops to find out more.