Older homelessness facing “ticking time bomb”, claims report

Britain is facing a “ticking time bomb” with the number of older homeless people skyrocketing by 130 per cent in the last eight years, according to local authorities.

The Local Government Association (LGA) reports that 620 people aged over 60 were accepted by the 370 councils in England and Wales that they represent between April and June this year.

Equating to 10 people every day, the intake represents a rise of 270 people between October and December 2009, which was the lowest number accepted since records began in 2005.

And the figures saw the LGA issue the warning that existing trends could see numbers double by 2025.

The nation is facing a “ticking time bomb” in the number of homeless older people, councils are warning https://t.co/m07A2OqInM pic.twitter.com/spAeAshqPt

— Local Government Association (LGA) (@LGAcomms) October 13, 2017

The cross-party group revealed the report, titled The impact of homelessness on health, today at their National Children and Adult Services Conference in Bournemouth.

And the key message was that the LGA are anticipating councils to be put under additional pressure in providing housing and social care for an ageing population.

As a result, the group is calling for the government to address the undersupply in specialist housing for older people as well as adapting the welfare reforms to reduce the risk of homelessness.

They are also arguing that councils should be able to borrow to invest in new council housing to increase supply, boost home ownership and reduce homelessness.

Prime Minister Theresa May has made some headway in the sector with the announcement of a £3.2 million fund to reduce homelessness in Greater Manchester this week.

In Wales, the recent focus has been on youth homelessness with a £500,000 cash injection to help tacking the issue alongside the £2.1 million previously invested in preventing homeless this year.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Traditionally homelessness is associated with young people and it is a tragic fact that a person suffering homelessness lives to an average age of only 47.

“But we are facing a ticking time bomb in older homelessness, with an alarming rise in the number of older people becoming homeless. While the actual numbers are relatively low, at the current rate, this will spiral in just a few years.

“Homelessness is not just a housing issue. Homelessness and ill-health are intrinsically linked, and this is especially evident in elderly people.

“For example, older people experiencing homelessness are more likely to suffer from depression or dementia, which has wider implications for social care and health services.

“Councils want to end homelessness by preventing it happening in the first place, we need government to allow councils to build affordable homes and to adapt welfare reforms to ensure housing remains affordable for low-income families.”

The reasons behind homeless in the latter years of life are twofold with complex health conditions, the death of a relative and accommodation being sold or needing repair just as likely to result in homelessness as mental health problems, substance abuse and gambling problems.

In fact, older people experiencing homelessness are more likely to have difficulties with mental illness or depression, according to the LGA.

Local authorities also cite the imbalance between rapidly increasing rent and stagnating household incomes as key factors driving the increase in older people on the streets.