2. What is homelessness?
At worst, homelessness can mean sleeping
rough on the streets and agencies report that
nearly 4000 people slept rough last year in
London alone.
However the problem of homelessness is much
bigger than that of rough sleeping.
As the previous Government stated: "the vast
majority of homeless people are actually families
or single people who are not literally sleeping on
the streets but living with relatives and friends or
in temporary accommodation"
3. The five main categories of homeless people:
• Statutory homeless
• Hidden homeless
• Rough sleeping
• Squatting
• Hostel accommodation
Source & Further Information
http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homeless-def-numbers.html
4. Homeless people die 30
years younger than those
with a stable home
Research for Crisis in 2011 found that the average life expectancy for a homeless
person is 47, compared to 77 for the rest of the population. The average for women is
even lower at 43.
5. Rough Sleeping
When most people think of a
homeless person they tend to think
of someone sleeping rough on the
streets.
Sleeping rough is a dangerous and
traumatising experience.
People who sleep rough are 35
times more likely to commit suicide
than the general population
6. The Autumn 2011 counts and
estimates suggested there were
2,181 rough sleepers on any one
night in England
This is a rise of 23% (413)
from Autumn 2010, when the
figure was 1,768
7. Rough Sleeping in London
When an individual is contacted by outreach
teams or other services working with rough
sleepers in London, their details are entered
onto a database (CHAIN).
According to CHAIN, 3975 people slept rough
at some point in London during 2010/11, an
increase of 8 per cent on the previous year's
total of 3673 and of more than a thousand
since 2005/06.
These figures are also considerably higher
than the Government's official figure of 415.
8. Rough Sleeping in London
CHAIN also tells us that:
•59 per cent of rough sleepers in London are new, 27
per cent have been rough sleeping for two or more
years and 13 per cent have returned to rough sleeping
after a gap of a year or more.
•87 per cent are male, 72 per cent are white.
•59 per cent are aged between 25 and 45 years with
only 7 per cent under 25 and 35 per cent over 45.
•Many have one or more support needs - 53 per cent
alcohol, 39 per cent drugs, 38 per cent mental health.
•41 per cent have been in prison at some point, 13 per
cent in care and 6 per cent in the armed forces.
9. If you do not qualify for local authority
housing assistance, if you are sleeping
rough, staying in a hostel or in some form of
unsatisfactory or insecure accommodation,
then you are one of the countless thousands
of hidden homeless people.
10. 69,846 children in England
have to live in hostels, bed
and breakfasts and
refuges.
Figures from December 2011
11. The Hidden Homeless
• Research for Crisis
"The hidden truth about homelessness: Experiences of hidden homelessness in
found that the majority of homeless people are hidden - that is living
outside mainstream homelessness accommodation (such as hostels).
• 62 per cent of those surveyed were hidden homeless on the day they
were interviewed and 92 per cent had experienced hidden homelessness.
• For every month that the respondents collectively spent in formal
homelessness provision they had spent over three months sleeping
rough, in squats, with friends or in other hidden situations.
• By its very nature therefore, it is extremely difficult to accurately estimate
the size of the homeless population. So perhaps the most accurate
statement might be to say that there are countless thousands of hidden
homeless people throughout Britain.
12. The Causes and Consequences of Homelessness
Most common causes for male homelessness:
•Relationship breakdown
•Substance misuse
•Leaving an institution (prison, hospital)
•Escaping a violent relationship
Most common causes for female homelessness:
•Physical or mental health problems
•Escapting a violent relationship
The consequences can be brutal
•Homelessness damages people's capability through loss of skills,
through an inability to think about employment whilst worrying
about housing, and through their health becoming impaired whilst
homeless
•One in four ex-homeless people also find themselves unable to
sustain a tenancy - loneliness & isolation are the main causes, often
compounded by lack of choice about where they can live.
•Homelessness also damages people's resilience, self-esteem and
self-confidence.
13. The national charity for single homeless people
http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/campaigns.html
14. The housing and homelessness charity
http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns
15. The Big Issue Foundation is a national charity
which connects vendors with the vital support
and solutions that enable them to rebuild their
lives and journey away from homelessness.
http://www.bigissue.org.uk/
16. Suggested Internet Links
• Homelessness Statistics
– http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homeless-def-numbers.html
• Success Stories from Crisis
– http://www.crisis.org.uk/success_stories.php
