Advertisement
Housing

Everything you need to know about homelessness in the UK right now

As temperatures plummet it’s natural that we all think more keenly of those without shelter. At The Big Issue we receive a lot of questions about what can be done to help. We hope this selection of reponses provides a useful guide

YOU WANTED TO KNOW…

What should you do if you see a homeless person?

A warm greeting and some simple small talk can make all the difference. Just think that the person you pass who is living on the streets might not have spoken to anyone that day – just a simple ‘hello, how are you?’ could make an enormous difference.

To connect rough sleepers with services that can help in England and Wales, send an alert to StreetLink – an organisation that helps the homeless by connecting people living on the streets with local authority and outreach teams to get them support. There is an app for contact, but they’re also on 0300 5000 914.

What can I do to fight homelessness?

If you spot a Big Issue vendor, buy the magazine and ALWAYS take your copy – they’re working hard, and every sale helps them to move up and on. Many charities provide emergency shelter – Centrepoint in London works specifically with young people, the Salvation Army runs hostels, drop-in centres, does frontline work with rough sleepers and offers a wide range of services across the UK. Others, like Crisis, offer support to help people out of homelessness, and Shelter works towards preventing people becoming homeless as well as assisting those who are already homeless. There are local charities and shelters right across the UK, and supporting these organisations makes a big difference – they are experts and can connect people with the help they need.

View this post on Instagram

This number is 10.7% higher than last year and things aren't getting any better.⁠ .⁠ Something to remember, homelessness is not just rough sleeping – though that’s the most visible version; it also means people living in temporary accommodation like hostels and B&Bs, sleeping on other people’s couches, staying temporarily with friends or relatives. Figures also track the numbers of those who are vulnerably housed or at risk of homelessness.⁠ .⁠ At the Big Issue, we work with people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. Anyone who feels they need an immediate source of income and is willing and able to sell the mag on the street. Our support teams at @thebigissuefoundation then help them take the next steps towards a better future. ⁠ .⁠ #bigissue #magazine #hope #endhomelessness #homelessness #roughsleeping #inspire #helpothers #activism #socialchange #socialgood #dosomethingfornothing #fair #fightpoverty #ukpolitics #stats #activism #socialjustice #changetheworld #housing #housingcrisis #homelesscrisis⁠

A post shared by The Big Issue (@bigissueuk) on

How many people are homeless in the UK?

Homelessness is not just rough sleeping – though that’s the most visible version; it also means people living in temporary accommodation like hostels and B&Bs, sleeping on other people’s couches, staying temporarily with friends or relatives. Figures also track the numbers of those who are vulnerably housed or at risk
of homelessness.

Between January and March in England 70,430 households were assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness – a sharp rise of 10.7 per cent on last year. In 2018-19 in Scotland 36,465 homeless applications were made, and 29,894 households were assessed as homeless by their local authority. In Wales every year more than 15,000 people become homeless, including 2,800 children.

Are there more rough sleepers than before? Why is the problem getting worse?

The government’s figures show that 4,677 people slept rough in England last year – but this figure is widely thought to be a significant underestimate, as official methods of counting rough sleepers are recognised as being unfit for purpose.

We reported on this issue earlier this year. 

How many people died homeless last year?

In England and Wales 726 homeless people died in 2018 according to the Office for National Statistics, a rise of more than 20 per cent on the previous year. It’s the highest year-on-year increase since 2013. The average age of death was 45 for homeless men and 43 for women; for the rest of the population the average ages are 76 and 81.

What is the cause of homelessness? Is it a housing problem?

There are many complex reasons why people become homeless. They include a lack of social or affordable housing, inadequate regulation of rental agreements, redundancy, poor physical or mental health, bereavement, domestic violence, lack of central government funding to councils to deal with housing shortages and cuts in government funding to homelessness services (£1bn in the last decade). It is a public health problem, a social issue and a housing problem.

What are the effects of homelessness?

Poor mental and physical health are the biggest impacts of being homeless – and the age of death for homeless people is significantly lower than for the rest of the population (see left). Specialist homelessness mental health services are either gone orvery hard to access. Organisations offering addiction services struggle under funding cuts and increased demand. Mental and physical health issues contribute to someone sleeping rough and the longer they do, the worse the problems get.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Sign our petition to keep people in their homes

Urgent action is needed to prevent even more people being pushed into homelessness.  A secure home is the first step in addressing the cruel cycle of poverty to ensure people can fulfil their potential. Join us to keep people in their homes.

Recommended for you

Read All
Yet another beggar banned from asking for money. Does legal action really tackle the problem?
Begging

Yet another beggar banned from asking for money. Does legal action really tackle the problem?

'Utter contempt': Fury as Tory minister says not all renters are 'weed-smoking bad people in gangs'
Renters reform bill

'Utter contempt': Fury as Tory minister says not all renters are 'weed-smoking bad people in gangs'

Pensioner couple receives four no-fault eviction notices in single year: 'They're inhumane'
End Housing Insecurity Now

Pensioner couple receives four no-fault eviction notices in single year: 'They're inhumane'

'Substantial efforts' needed to improve knowledge of homelessness, landmark UN report says
homelessness

'Substantial efforts' needed to improve knowledge of homelessness, landmark UN report says

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Here's when people will get the second cost of living payment in 2023
3.

Here's when people will get the second cost of living payment in 2023

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue