IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS? THE DILEMMA The homeless problem in Britain is getting worse. Since 2010, the number of people sleeping rough in England has risen every year. An estimated 4,751 people bedded down outside overnight in 2017, up 15% on the previous year. In 2010 the figure was just below 1,800. Across the entire UK, at least 440 homeless people died last year that s more than one a day. These deaths were caused by, among other reasons, violence, drug overdoses, illnesses, suicide and murder. Some 59,000 households in England which includes people who live alone and whole families needed a home in 2017. In Scotland the figure is 28,972. Also in Scotland, 14,075 children were in households assessed as homeless in 2017/18. Last year in Wales, 9,210 households were threatened with homelessness. Some experts say that the homelessness crisis is a direct result of cutbacks to public services, such as social care. Social workers try to prevent vulnerable people from ending up without a home. Others say that cuts to welfare have left people poorer and more likely to end up on the streets. Is it time the Government did more, or are they already doing what they can? WHAT HOMELESS MEANS Homelessness is measured in slightly different ways across the four countries of the United Kingdom. In England, homelessness statistics measure something called statutory homelessness. People are considered statutorily homeless when they report to their local authority (council) either being homeless or threatened with homelessness, and are offered help with housing. If the local authority finds that the person is in priority need and has nowhere to stay, they have to provide temporary accommodation while investigating the case. If the authority decides that they have a duty to find the person a permanent place to live, they might continue to live in temporary accommodation until a suitable home becomes available. People who have not approached authorities for help and those who are found to be low priority or intentionally homeless are not included in the data. Although rough sleepers are homeless, they are counted in a different way, as many may not be in contact with local authorities. Rough sleepers are people sleeping on the streets counted by councils on a given night in the year.
FACTS & FIGURES A homeless hostel in London in 1938 The number of rough sleepers has increased to 1,137 in London and 3,614 in the rest of England In London there are an estimated 225,000 hidden homeless people aged 16-25 they are not officially homeless, but they arrange their own temporary accommodation with friends or family as they have no home of their own. 1 in 100 children in the UK are homeless that s more than 120,000. The areas with the most rough sleepers are Westminster (London) followed by Brighton & Hove. In 2010, the number of people sleeping rough in England was 1,768. It is now 4,751. The number of households in temporary accommodation at the start of 2018 was 79,880, representing a 3% increase from last year. 3,000 2,000 London Rest of England It's unlawful for a council to keep a person in a bed and breakfast for more than 6 weeks if they are pregnant or have children living with them. Single homeless people have an average age at death of 47 years, compared with 77 years for the general population. 1,000 Temporary accommodation also known as emergency housing is offered by the council to people who do not have their own home. It is often in a B&B or homeless hostel. 0 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Source: Source: Rough Sleeping Statistics Autumn 2017, England
WHY ARE PEOPLE HOMELESS? There are several reasons why people end up being homeless. Unable to find affordable housing People who are out of work or earn very low wages can struggle to afford a place to stay. This is especially a problem in London, which has the most expensive housing in the whole country. The average cost of rent per calendar month in England and Wales increased by 19% from 2007 to 2017. In London, the increase was 29%. Across the same period of time, weekly earnings in the UK fell from 463 in January 2007 to 458 in 2017. So people earn less but have to pay more for their housing. Poverty and unemployment This is directly connected to the point above. If you don t have much money, you can t afford a place to stay. And the main reason you might not have much money is that you are unemployed. Without a job, it is very difficult to afford housing in the UK. Traumatic events Many homeless people end up without a home because of upsetting events that have happened in their lives. This could be a death in the family, divorce or other major traumas. It can also be difficult for people who served in the military to adjust to civilian life once they leave the armed forces. Some suffer from a condition called post-traumatic stress disorder, which is severe anxiety caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. Although we don t know exactly how many ex-military personnel are homeless, the figure is thought to be somewhere between 4,000 and 13,000. Leaving prison or care People who have recently left prison or long-term care such as in a mental health hospital are often in a vulnerable position. They might not have the support they need to find a home or the money. They might also fear living alone or without the structure and routine that life in prison or a care home has given them for months or even years. Mental health problems According to the mental health charity Mind, Housing and mental health are often linked. Poor mental health can make it harder to cope with housing problems, while being homeless or having problems in your home can make your mental health worse. The Big Issue, a magazine produced for homeless people to sell, says four in five homeless people suffer from a mental health problem. Drug abuse Research by Crisis has found that around 30% of homeless people are thought to have a drink or drug addiction. Two thirds of homeless people say drug or alcohol use was a reason for first becoming homeless. Those who use drugs are seven times more likely to be homeless. A Big Issue vendor Escape Some homeless people have had to flee their homes because they were being abused by partners, parents or others. There are also young homeless people whose families kicked them out because of their sexuality. The Albert Kennedy Trust, an LGBT homeless charity, says that 24% of homeless young people identify as LGBT.
CUTBACKS Many experts say the current Government s policy of spending cutbacks has caused the rapid increase in the homeless population. Between 2010 and 2015, the UK was ruled by a joint government of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. The Conservatives have ruled alone since 2015, though they now have a deal with a Northern Irish party called the Democratic Unionist Party. Cutbacks to social care and youth services, as well as reductions in welfare (benefit) payments and a lack of affordable housing are thought to have led to the sudden increase in people unable to afford their own home. OPINIONS It is truly a catastrophe that in a country as prosperous as this, more and more people are finding themselves forced to sleep in dangerous and freezing conditions when we have evidence to show how the situation could be turned around. Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of homeless charity Crisis THE AUTHORITIES Families with children must be found housing by local councils According to fact-checking charity Full Fact, these are the rules regarding care that must be provided for homeless people within the UK: There s a legal duty for the state to help people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. Councils are responsible for this in England, Wales and Scotland, while Northern Ireland has a single organisation responsible for housing. In England, councils only have a duty to find somewhere for a person to live if they have a priority need. This includes families with children, people in an emergency after a flood or fire, or who are vulnerable for various other reasons. In addition, they must not have deliberately done or failed to do anything that caused them to become homeless. But with cutbacks taking money out of council budgets, many are struggling to find ways of housing homeless families. SO WHAT IS BEING DONE? In August of this year, the Government announced a 100 million plan to tackle homelessness called the Rough Sleeping Strategy. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire promised to make homelessness a thing of the past and the Government has vowed to end rough sleeping by 2027. How will they do this? Prime Minister Theresa May The idea is to offer support to prevent people becoming homeless in the first place. About 30 million will be spent on mental health support and treatment for drug and alcohol misuse. The Government will also put about 50 million towards homes outside London for those who can move on from homeless hostels or refuges. People who sleep rough will also have the help of navigators people who specialise in finding services and accommodation for the homeless. Seven homelessness charities including Shelter and Crisis supported the plan. But soon after it was announced, it became clear the money wasn t new spending dedicated to the homelessness problem. Mr Brokenshire admitted half of the promised 100 million had already been committed to homelessness and rough sleeping, while the other half had been shifted from other budgets in his department.
YES, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY DOING ENOUGH TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS 1. THEY ARE INVESTING IN PREVENTION The announcement earlier this year shows the Government cares and is determined to end rough sleeping altogether by 2027. They are spending big money on helping people get the support they need to find a permanent home. 2. THE PROBLEM IS BIG AND WILL TAKE TIME Like all big issues that have lots of complicated causes, the UK s homelessness crisis cannot be solved overnight. Politicians need time to fix the situation. 3. THE PM IS COMMITTED Prime Minister Theresa May has said that homelessness is a source of national shame, and has vowed to make it her personal mission to tackle the housing crisis. NO, THE GOVERNMENT MUST DO MUCH MORE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS 1. THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES There are far more rough sleepers and more statutory homeless since 2010. That s no coincidence: it s when the Conservatives got into power. This crisis is their responsibility and it s only getting worse, not better. 2. EXPERTS SAY THEY AREN T DOING ENOUGH According to many experts, the programme of cutbacks to welfare and public services are the biggest two causes of the increase in homelessness. If the Government was serious about preventing homelessness, it would reverse the cuts. 3. THEY AREN T DEALING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING If ordinary people can t afford homes, the situation won t get better. The Government needs to build more homes that ordinary people can afford to rent or buy. OPINIONS To prevent more people from having to experience the trauma of homelessness, the Government must ensure housing benefit is enough to cover the cost of rents, and urgently ramp up its efforts to build many more social homes. We have failed as a society when so many people are forced to sleep rough. Polly Neate, chief executive of homeless charity Shelter We are investing 1.2 billion to tackle all forms of homelessness and have set out bold plans, backed by 100 million in funding, to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and end it by 2027. Government spokesperson This is a direct result of decisions made by Conservative ministers: a steep drop in investment for affordable homes, crude cuts to housing benefit, reduced funding for homelessness services and a refusal to help private renters. John Healey MP, Labour Party spokesperson on housing
What is the difference between homelessness and rough sleeping? Will there always be homeless people, or should it be unacceptable in a country like Britain? Why is homelessness increasing? What three things do you think the Government could do to help reduce homelessness? What can you, your family and school do to help the homeless? Why do people end up homeless? Has anyone you know ever been homeless? What do you think of the Government s plan to spend 100 million on tackling homelessness? Should the Government build more cheap homes for people to rent and buy, or is that not their job? Would you ever give money/ food to a homeless person who asks for it, or do you think it isn t helpful?