Working people face sleeping rough as charity warns 'we're all at risk'
Homeless charity St. Mungo's is highlighting the issue ahead of the festive period
Homeless Charity St Mungo's is warning the scale of homelessness in the UK is reaching unprecedented levels as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
A study, carried out by the organisation, highlights the pervasive nature of the crisis - including impacting those in work.
It found:
- One in five people has either experienced temporary accommodation or knows someone who has (21%)
- 12% of people have encountered or known someone who has slept rough on the streets in 2023
- Nearly a fifth (19%) have also faced hidden homelessness this year or are acquainted with someone who has.
Rough sleeping numbers up in 2023
The number of people sleeping rough has surged by 26% this year and 74% since 2010.
Furthermore, 17% of the population is connected to someone grappling with some form of homelessness this Christmas - such a living in temporary accomodation or sofa-surfing with friends or family.
The government says rough sleeping is 28% lower than it was in 2019.
Matthew Bawden from St Mungo's told Greatest Hits Radio: "It's a real sad indictment of society that anyone can find themselves in a situation where they need to sleep on the street.
"It's not unheard of, its not even uncommon to hear of someone working in what is labelled as the gig economy, with insecure types of employment to have periods of rough sleeping.
"We're all at risk - it's an eventuality we can all experience and I think its important that people really that people who end up sleeping on the street are not any different from them, really.
"Anyone is at risk of losing their home."
"Systemic failures in housing supply"
Asked if there was an end in sight to the current homelessness and rough sleeping crisis, Matthew told us benefits seen through the government's "Everyone In" strategy have slowly been eroded - adding: "Unfortunately I don't think the resources have been enough, I don't think the political will has been sustained enough.
"Ultimately I think a lot of this comes down to systemic failures in housing supply."
St Mungo’s emphasises preventive measures to curb homelessness and places a top priority on ensuring individuals rescued from the streets avoid falling back into the cycle of homelessness.
Response from the UK government
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan said:
“We are determined to end rough sleeping for good and are working hand-in-hand with the homelessness sector and other partners to make sure people have a roof over their head and the support to rebuild their lives.
“We have given councils £2 billion – including nearly £190 million for London – to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping, and in the capital are supporting 13 projects that provide services and emergency accommodation.
"Through our Rough Sleeping Strategy we will end rough sleeping completely.”