26% of registered homeless in East of England in full or part-time work
That's according to research by the Salvation Army between April 2023 and May 2024
Last updated 10th Dec 2024
Tens of thousands of working people in the UK are expected to be homeless this Christmas despite having a job, some even sleeping in cardboard boxes, tents, and cars, according to new research by The Salvation Army.
In the East of England more than a quarter of those registered as homeless between April 2023 and May 2024 are in full or part-time work (26.6% of all who are registered as homeless). - that's 8,360 people.
Sanctus is a homeless shelter in Chelmsford that has been running for 13 years.
One man has been a service user there for 10 years.
He tells Greatest Hits Radio "Sanctus saved my life."
"I find Christmas hard every year, bad memories more than good.
He tells us people that have never been homeless, especially at Christmas, "will never understand it."
He's now in temporary accommodation and has been working selling fish and meat for nine years.
He encourages those who are struggling this Christmas to "ask for help".
"Get out the hole, get on the curb, get on the path. You have got to want to do it yourself" he says.
The Salvation Army used the latest Government figures in the four UK nations to reveal, from April 2023 to March 2024, 56,242 workers in the UK were registered as homeless.
32,138 were in full-time employment and 24,104 working part-time.
The Salvation Army points out that these figures are likely an underestimate as not everyone in this situation registers with their local authority. Moreover, only the employment status of the main applicant in a household is recorded.
18-year-old Ronny Lenny is on bail and has been using Sanctus services since 19th November.
"It hasn't been bad at all. Waking up cold, soaking rain and wet, is the worst thing. Otherwise it's actually sweet spending time with the boys.
"I'm literally in a spot with four of my mates. We wake up when we feel like it and just go out. I was up at 2am this morning just walking about and it was actually alright" says Ronny.
The Salvation Army charity are calling for the Government to help people on low wages afford somewhere to live by raising housing benefits so they are in line with inflation.
The Salvation Army's Director of Homelessness Services, Nick Redmore, said: “Someone with a job becomes homeless the equivalent of every ten minutes.
"The person delivering your Christmas shopping, making your gingerbread latte, or cleaning up after your office Christmas party may not have a proper home to go to when they clock off.
“Our findings shatter the assumption that all anyone who is homeless needs to do is just get a job.
"Sky-high rents and mortgage rates combined with the rising cost of living, plus long waiting lists for council housing, mean a salary doesn’t guarantee a home.
"With homelessness continuing to rise, the Government’s planned investment in prevention and social housing is much needed.
"However, the decision to freeze the Local Housing Allowance is a huge financial blow to people on low incomes and already struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
“We have helped working men and women of all ages who were sleeping in cardboard boxes, tents and cars or sofa-surfing while trying to hold down a job. We pray that 2025 will be the year the Government ends homelessness for good," says Mr Redmore.
If you have found someone who is homeless or you have become homeless yourself, visit the Street Support website to notify local organisations who will be able to help.
If you have questions relating to homelessness, addiction or financial hardship in Essex, you can contact Sanctus on 01245 257985.