Homelessness in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
In England the homeless are categoriesed into two different groups by the government - statutory homeless, and non-statutory homeless.
There live around 1 million homeless in England. Half a million live on the street or doorways, the second half live in shelters or squat.
people, or those who are at risk of becoming homeless within 28 days.
A local authority must accept an application for assistance from a person seeking homelessness assistance if they have reason to believe that the person may be homeless or threatened with homelessness. They are then duty bound to make inquiries into that person's circumstances in order to decide whether a legal duty to provide accommodation and assistance is owed. "Interim accommodation" must be provided to those that may be eligible for permanent assistance pending a final decision. If the local authority decides that a person is homeless but does not fall into a priority need category, then a lesser duty shall be owed which does not extend to the provision of temporary accommodation. If the authority decides that a person is homeless and priority need but became homeless intentionally then the authority must secure that accommodation is available for such a period as will give the person reasonable time to find long term accommodation, which can extend to provision of temporary accommodation. The local authority shall in all the above cases be lawfully obliged to offer advice and assistance.
Certain categories of persons from abroad (including British citizens who have lived abroad for some time) may be ineligible for assistance under the legislation.
A person does not have to be roofless to qualify legally as being homeless. They may be in possession of accommodation which is not reasonably tenable for a person to occupy by virtue of its affordability, condition, location, if it is not available to all members of the household, or because an occupant is at risk of violence or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out.
If the applicant qualifies under the five criteria (that they are not ineligible for housing, such as a person subject to immigration control; that the applicant is statutorily homeless or threatened with homelessness; that they are of 'priority need'; that the applicant is not intentionally homeless; and that the applicant has a local connection) then the local authority has a legal duty to provide accommodation for the applicant, those living with them, and any other person who it is reasonable to reside with them. However, if the applicant does not have a local connection with the district of the authority then they may be referred to another local authority with which they have a local connection (unless it is likely that the applicant would suffer violence or threats of violence in that other area).
People have a "priority need" for being provided with temporary housing (and a given a 'reasonable preference' for permanent accommodation on the Council's Housing Register) if any of the following apply: (1) they are pregnant; (2) they have dependent children; (3) they are homeless because of an emergency such as a flood or a fire; (4) they are aged 16 or 17 (except certain care leavers who remain the responsibility of social services); (5) they are care leavers aged 18–20 (if looked after, accommodated or fostered while aged 16–17); (6) they are vulnerable due to, old age, a physical or mental illness or handicap or physical disability, or other special reason (such as a person at risk of exploitation); (7) they are vulnerable as a result of (a) having been in care (regardless of age),(b) fleeing violence or threats of violence (c) service in one of the armed forces, or (d) having served a custodial sentence or having been remanded in custody.
The accommodation may not necessarily be provided by the council and even where the "full" duty is owed the housing provided may at first be temporary accommodation: often bed and breakfast
hotels are used for temporary accommodation, and Housing Association
s for permanent accommodation.
Practical advice regarding homelessness can be obtained through the websites listed below. The Citizens Advice Bureau
and some other charities also offer advice in person, by telephone, or by email. The Shelter
provides advice about homelessness and other housing problems from the telephone number given on their website. In an emergency, a person contacts a local council. Thames Reach
runs the London Street Rescue Service which provides support to people sleeping on the streets of the capital, additionally Broadway
Outreach Teams provide Services on the streets of the City, Kensington and Chelsea and Heathrow Airport.
More recently Shelter have also moved to the social care field, offering advice and support to families with social needs, offering advocacy and support with Social requirements including co-ordination of multi agency approaches.
General:
Reasons for homelessness
In 2007/2008, the Office of the Deputy for Homelessness Statistics produced a table which showed some of the more immediate reasons for homelessness in England. These were not underlying reasons but before the onset of homelessness. These reasons were given by the minister's report for 2007/2008 as:- 37% - Parents, family, or friends no longer willing or able to accommodate
- 20% - Loss of private dwelling, including tied accommodation
- 19% - Breakdown of relationship with partner
- 4% - Mortgage arrears
- 2% - Rent arrears
- 18% - Other
There live around 1 million homeless in England. Half a million live on the street or doorways, the second half live in shelters or squat.
Government treatment of the homeless
All local authorities in England have a legal duty to provide 24-hour advice to homelessHomelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
people, or those who are at risk of becoming homeless within 28 days.
A local authority must accept an application for assistance from a person seeking homelessness assistance if they have reason to believe that the person may be homeless or threatened with homelessness. They are then duty bound to make inquiries into that person's circumstances in order to decide whether a legal duty to provide accommodation and assistance is owed. "Interim accommodation" must be provided to those that may be eligible for permanent assistance pending a final decision. If the local authority decides that a person is homeless but does not fall into a priority need category, then a lesser duty shall be owed which does not extend to the provision of temporary accommodation. If the authority decides that a person is homeless and priority need but became homeless intentionally then the authority must secure that accommodation is available for such a period as will give the person reasonable time to find long term accommodation, which can extend to provision of temporary accommodation. The local authority shall in all the above cases be lawfully obliged to offer advice and assistance.
Certain categories of persons from abroad (including British citizens who have lived abroad for some time) may be ineligible for assistance under the legislation.
A person does not have to be roofless to qualify legally as being homeless. They may be in possession of accommodation which is not reasonably tenable for a person to occupy by virtue of its affordability, condition, location, if it is not available to all members of the household, or because an occupant is at risk of violence or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out.
If the applicant qualifies under the five criteria (that they are not ineligible for housing, such as a person subject to immigration control; that the applicant is statutorily homeless or threatened with homelessness; that they are of 'priority need'; that the applicant is not intentionally homeless; and that the applicant has a local connection) then the local authority has a legal duty to provide accommodation for the applicant, those living with them, and any other person who it is reasonable to reside with them. However, if the applicant does not have a local connection with the district of the authority then they may be referred to another local authority with which they have a local connection (unless it is likely that the applicant would suffer violence or threats of violence in that other area).
People have a "priority need" for being provided with temporary housing (and a given a 'reasonable preference' for permanent accommodation on the Council's Housing Register) if any of the following apply: (1) they are pregnant; (2) they have dependent children; (3) they are homeless because of an emergency such as a flood or a fire; (4) they are aged 16 or 17 (except certain care leavers who remain the responsibility of social services); (5) they are care leavers aged 18–20 (if looked after, accommodated or fostered while aged 16–17); (6) they are vulnerable due to, old age, a physical or mental illness or handicap or physical disability, or other special reason (such as a person at risk of exploitation); (7) they are vulnerable as a result of (a) having been in care (regardless of age),(b) fleeing violence or threats of violence (c) service in one of the armed forces, or (d) having served a custodial sentence or having been remanded in custody.
The accommodation may not necessarily be provided by the council and even where the "full" duty is owed the housing provided may at first be temporary accommodation: often bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
hotels are used for temporary accommodation, and Housing Association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
s for permanent accommodation.
Practical advice regarding homelessness can be obtained through the websites listed below. The Citizens Advice Bureau
Citizens Advice Bureau
A Citizens Advice Bureau is one of a network of independent charities throughout the UK that give free, confidential information and advice to help people with their money, legal, consumer and other problems....
and some other charities also offer advice in person, by telephone, or by email. The Shelter
Shelter (charity)
Shelter is a registered charity in England and Scotland that campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people in need, and tackles the root causes of bad housing by lobbying government and local authorities for new laws and policies to improve the...
provides advice about homelessness and other housing problems from the telephone number given on their website. In an emergency, a person contacts a local council. Thames Reach
Thames Reach
Thames Reach is a London based charity working with homeless men and women.- Services :Its services include outreach work with rough sleepers, a range of hostels and supported housing projects, and schemes which focus on supporting people who have experienced homelessness by helping them develop...
runs the London Street Rescue Service which provides support to people sleeping on the streets of the capital, additionally Broadway
Broadway Homelessness and Support
Broadway Homelessness and Support is a homelessness charity that was formed in April 2002 from the merger of Riverpoint and Housing Services Agency. Its vision is that every person finds and keeps a home. Broadway works directly with approximately 3,000 homeless and vulnerably housed people every...
Outreach Teams provide Services on the streets of the City, Kensington and Chelsea and Heathrow Airport.
More recently Shelter have also moved to the social care field, offering advice and support to families with social needs, offering advocacy and support with Social requirements including co-ordination of multi agency approaches.
Statistics
The official figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government for England (not including the rest of the UK) are that on average 498 people sleep rough each night, with 248 of those in London. There are a total of 84,900 households (which may contain more than one person) that are classified as homeless. Some homelessness workers have claimed that these figures are manipulated to give a lower number of people sleeping rough.See also
- Poverty in the United KingdomPoverty in the United KingdomThe United Kingdom is a developed country with comparatively large income differences. As such, those at the lower end of the income distribution have a relatively low standard of living. However, the severe privations of those in the developing world are scarcely to be seen due to the more...
General:
- HomelessnessHomelessnessHomelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
- Impotent poor
- Poor laws
- Vagrancy (people)Vagrancy (people)A vagrant is a person in poverty, who wanders from place to place without a home or regular employment or income.-Definition:A vagrant is "a person without a settled home or regular work who wanders from place to place and lives by begging;" vagrancy is the condition of such persons.-History:In...
- Jack TafariJack TafariJack Tafari , is a Rastafarian and an activist who has worked to improve the conditions of the homeless in the developed world. Tafari has devised and applied a system that harnesses Internet technologies, activism and traditional public relations techniques to advance the interests of the homeless...
- Public housingPublic housingPublic housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
- DeinstitutionalisationDeinstitutionalisationDeinstitutionalization or deinstitutionalization is the process of replacing long-stay psychiatric hospitals with less isolated community mental health service for those diagnosed with a mental disorder or developmental disability. Deinstitutionalization can have multiple definitions; the first...
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Psychological traumaPsychological traumaPsychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
- Cardboard CitizensCardboard CitizensCardboard Citizens is the UK's only homeless people's professional theatre company and the leading practitioner of Forum Theatre in the UK. They work with people who have experience of, or who are at risk of, becoming homeless....
- Cardboard Citizens New Music EnsembleCardboard Citizens New Music EnsembleThe Cardboard Citizens New Music Ensemble is an experimental music group based in London, UK. Its members are all homeless, ex-homeless or at risk of becoming homeless people. Founder and director Reynaldo Young, is an award winning composer and performer....
Further reading
- Angell, Ian, "No More Leaning on Lamp-posts", London School of Economics.
- BBC News, "Warning over homelessness figures: Government claims that homelessness numbers have fallen by a fifth since last year should be taken with a health warning, says housing charity Shelter", Monday, 13 June, 2005.
- BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
, "No Home, a season of television and radio programmes that introduce the new homeless.", 2006. - "UK Housing Review", University of York, England
External links
- The Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities. - Provides statutory guidance on Local Authority obligations towards homeless people. Local Authorities must have regard to this code by law.
- Quarterly government statistics on statutory homelessness - Quarterly statistics from central government on statutory homelessness.
- CHAIN rough sleeping research from Broadway - Broadway's CHAIN research on rough sleeping across London.
- Homeless Forum - England - an online forum for homeless people in England as well as service providers and community stakeholders.
- Thames Reach - a UK charity providing services to homeless men and women across London
- Shelter - a UK charity that provides a freephone helpline for homelessness and other housing problems
- Emmaus - charity with live-in communities, offering work and accommodation to give homeless people a new start
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Crisis
- The Pavement - a UK charity that publishes London, Scotland and West Midlands editions of a free magazine for rough sleepers and the vulnerably-housed, as well as a rights guide for rough sleepers
- Directory of UK services
- Homeless Link - an umbrella charity representing 500 organisations working with homeless people throughout England
- Government links and statistics
- Cardboard Citizens - the UK's only homeless people's professional theatre company.