Homelessness

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"

The five main categories of homeless people:

• Statutory homeless• Hidden homeless• Rough sleeping

• Squatting• Hostel accommodation

Source & Further Informationhttp://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homeless-def-numbers.html

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.

Rough SleepingWhen 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

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

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.

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.

Rough Sleeping in London

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.

69,846 children in England have to live in hostels, bed and breakfasts and refuges.

Figures from December 2011

The Hidden Homeless• Research for Crisis "The hidden truth about homelessness: Experiences

of hidden homelessness in England" 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.

The Causes and Consequences of HomelessnessMost 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.

The national charity for single homeless people

http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/campaigns.html

The housing and homelessness charity

http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns

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/

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