THE inaugural event run by York’s Arts Against Homelessness collective takes place on Monday at The Basement, City Screen, York.

The fund-raising cabaret will be in support of three charities: Keyhouse, who provide legal representation to households who are homeless or facing homelessness; SASH, who find emergency accommodation for homeless young people; and York Foodbank, who supply food parcels to families in crisis.

Organiser Andy Humphrey says: “We're so grateful to York’s artistic and literary community for lending their talents to help the most vulnerable families in our city, and to York Literature Festival for allowing us to put on this event as part of their programme. It should be a first-rate evening’s entertainment."

The elder statesman of York poetry, Don Walls, is to top the 8pm bill. “Many of Don's poems are reflections on the lives of vulnerable people – homeless people, refugees – but Don’s poetry has a witty side too, so I know there'll be laughs as well as serious moments," says Andy.

Among the York musicians taking part will be Casee Wilson, a songwriter and keyboard player, whose songs can be angry, heartbreaking or wickedly funny; folk duo Angie Shaw and Phil Snell on guitar and lap steel; and Rob Nightingale, whose comedic songs are in the tradition of Tom Lehrer and Flanders & Swann.

"Rob opened for Roger McGough at last year’s York Literature Festival and had the audience in stitches," says Andy, who also presents Sarah Dean, a harpist capable of transforming anywhere into a fairytale landscape with her magical music.

Spoken word artists from the York scene on Monday's bill include Henry Raby, co-founder of the Say Owt! poetry slams in York, who describes himself as a "nerd punk poet", and Rose Drew, a force of nature who will do a fierce protest poem one minute and reflecting on womanhood, love and family life the next.

Highlighting more participating poets, Andy says: "Alan Gillott is a lyrical poet whose words are musical and rich in imagery. Laurence O’Reilly, who has played Jesus in the York Mystery Plays, brings a hip-hop sensibility as well as a touch of theatre to his performances. Bob Horton is the only poet I know brave enough to perform a sonnet at a poetry slam.

"As for Jaime Bolzern, she's a wild card. I’ve heard her perform immense confessional poems about family, sexuality or body image and ridiculous ditties about tapeworms or the mating habits of hedgehogs. I have no idea what she will do on the night, but it’s sure to be breathtaking."

Andy will take the opportunity to launch his poetry book, Satires, published by York small press Stairwell Books, at Monday's event. Sale proceeds will support Keyhouse in their work.

Tickets cost £5 on 0871 902 5726, at picturehouses.com/cinema/york or on the door. Proceeds will go to the nominated charities.