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| One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live | One night on the street witnessing Britain's homeless crisis – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.31pm GMT | |
| 21:31 | |
| Amelia Gentleman | |
| Just as worrying: refuse collection companies are reporting a rise in the number of people sleeping in bins. | |
| The waste management firm Biffa provides a clear insight into the growing problem. Its staff discovered 31 people sleeping in bins in 2014. This rose to 93 in 2015 and then for the current financial year the figure has risen even further – to 175. | |
| Industrial waste bins are clearly incredibly dangerous place to sleep. Across the UK, eleven people have been killed in the past five years because of sleeping in bins, according to the company. | |
| Tim Standring, Biffa’s health and safety spokesman, says: | |
| “The more homeless people we get, the more people need to find shelter in waste containers. It is a growing problem for the UK not just our company.” Staff check every bin now before emptying it into their disposal vans. | |
| Another waste management company, Veolia, has been working with homelessness charities to try to educate people about the potentially fatal consequences of sleeping in dustbins. | |
| 9.26pm GMT | |
| 21:26 | |
| Steven Morris | |
| Here’s an interesting/worrying sign in a car park in Bristol. “Rough sleeping, begging and other anti-social behaviour, crime and disorder will not be tolerated in this car park. Anyone found engaged in these activities will be banned from the premises. If such bans are ignored Bristol city council will seek enforcement by way of a court order, breach of which could lead to a custodial sentence.” | |
| Thanks to reader John who flagged this one up to us. He said rough sleeping was being “punished”. The notice does go on to offer advice to homeless people but the bottom line is that it does seem to be potentially criminalising rough sleepers. I’ve asked Bristol city council to comment. | |
| 9.21pm GMT | |
| 21:21 | |
| Tonight we met... Michal | |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | |
| Michal is an example of an east European who hasn’t always found it easy in the UK - but doesn’t want to give up. | |
| “Today I’m going to find a job,” says Michal optimistically, a service user at Streetwork in Edinburgh. | |
| Michal is one of a number of migrants who have found themselves homeless in the city. Since 2004 and the expansion of the EU, staff members tell me they’ve seen an increase in migrants presenting themselves at the centre, often because they don’t have a support network or any family in the UK. | |
| Staff laugh as they tell me about their troubles with spelling Eastern European surnames, and one of the receptionists, who is a native Polish speaker, is constantly in demand. | |
| My partner still lives in Poland,” says Michal, who became homeless shortly after moving back to the UK a month ago and losing his job. “She’s waiting for me. I’m too embarrassed to call her and tell her I have no money. I was so unlucky, just before I lost my job I sent all of my savings back home.” | |
| Having worked in Dundee four years ago, Michal only returned to the UK because he struggled to find employment at home. He’s adamant that he doesn’t want to “stay here and claim benefits”, but says that he was forced into accessing Streetwork’s services or else he could have found himself sleeping rough. | |
| Streetwork have been helping Michal with his CV, and he nervously shows me a copy of it, wondering if it looks professional enough. | |
| Yesterday I spoke to many people and there’s a lot of jobs going, but they want to see my CV, so today I’ve prepared it,” he says. “The ideal job would be in construction or on a farm out in the countryside.” | |
| However, Michal studied history in Poland and has a passion for the Middle Ages. | |
| There’s no Polish schools here, and my English isn’t good enough to teach British people but I liked learning about the bloody battles and I like video games of battles too - some men never grow up!” | |
| 9.12pm GMT | |
| 21:12 | |
| The migrant factor | |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | |
| There’s been plenty below the line tonight to suggest that people think a key cause of this homeless spike is immigration, so let’s focus on that for a few minutes. | |
| The truth, as ever, is far more nuanced, as the Guardian’s Amelia Gentleman reports: | |
| There’s a lot of confusion about whether the sharp rise in rough sleeping is the result of migration to the UK or not – and partly this is because the official figures don’t tell us. Many charities are seeing a steep rise in UK rough sleepers, as well as recording higher numbers from outside the country, but it is hard to do a reliable breakdown of what proportion of rough sleepers are from the UK and how many are from elsewhere, because outside London there are no government statistics. | |
| In London there is a detailed annual survey, the Chain reports [http://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/chain-reports] reveal that 43% of recorded rough sleepers in 2014-15 were from the UK, while 35% were from Central and Eastern European countries. After the UK, Romania was the next most frequently recorded country of origin, with 18.7%, of the total, followed by Poland, at 9.6%. But it’s more complicated than that, because these figures may overstate the non-UK population, since most migrant rough sleepers aren’t eligible for help with housing or hostels (they aren’t eligible for housing benefit) so they are likely to be on the streets for longer than UK nationals, who can in theory be helped into emergency accommodation. | |
| A lot of Romanian rough sleepers in the capital are working, but too poor to afford rent, according to the annual Crisis Homelessness Monitor report [http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/homelessnessmonitor.html]. Outreach workers in London describe meeting Romanian rough sleepers who are working for agencies sub-contracted to provide refuse collection and street cleaning services for London councils – cleaning the streets that they are sleeping on. Others are working as cheap day labourers for builders, for as little as £15 a day, and sleeping rough at night because renting is unaffordable. | |
| There is funding to help European rough sleepers return home. | |
| If it is clear that work is not realistic for a number of reasons (support needs around mental health, substance misuse or simply lack of language, skills and social skills) we will always try to help people make the big decision to reconnect to their home countries,” Eammon Egerton, an outreach worker with St Mungo’s, explains. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.16pm GMT | |
| 9.06pm GMT | |
| 21:06 | |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | |
| The Homeless World Cup is set to be held in Glasgow in July of this year, and yesterday trials were announced for the team which will take place in later this month and into April. | |
| The annual football tournament sees more than 70 countries taking part and is one of the few football competitions where Scotland excel - winning the cup both in 2007 and 2011. | |
| However, David Duke, who heads up the Scottish team as part of his organisation, Street Soccer, says that what’s more important to him is the work he and his fellow staff members and volunteers do every day. | |
| We’ve got 30 programmes a week and we’re servicing over 100 players,” says David, “We work with people affected by poverty and often homelessness. It’s super diverse, from 16-year-old girls to 68 year old men from Latvia!” | |
| I’ve met David, and Ally Dawson - a former Rangers player who works for Street Soccer in Glasgow and will be coaching the Homeless Scotland team this year - at Leith Community Centre, at one of their drop-in sessions. David has been playing a match with some of the boys (and one girl) who have turned up. | |
| We have drop in events like this one which anyone can come down to. Once they’re engaged with it, they have personal development training, and they can progress to being volunteers. | |
| I set it up in 2009 and because I’d experienced homelessness in my early 20s. It was after my Dad passed away and I had cut myself off from friends and family. I actually played at the Homeless World Cup,” David says. | |
| Our aim is to inspire change, promote change and let the people who play be in control of it.” | |
| Ally and David take me through to where a match is being played in the main hall at the centre. “Should have brought your trainers,” Ally says, his eyes immediately swivelling to watch the game. Check out Street Soccer Scotland on Twitter: @streetsoccerSCO | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.07pm GMT | |
| 8.54pm GMT | 8.54pm GMT |
| 20:54 | 20:54 |
| Tonight we met... Ray Braithwaite | Tonight we met... Ray Braithwaite |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Ray Braithwaite has dropped by for some hot food with his girlfriend. The 40-year-old has been in Harrogate for 22 years, moving here from Grimsby. | Ray Braithwaite has dropped by for some hot food with his girlfriend. The 40-year-old has been in Harrogate for 22 years, moving here from Grimsby. |
| The port town which has any drug you could want to lay your hands on,” he said. Braitwaite was in care by the time he was eight, and spent his first night out on the streets aged 13. | The port town which has any drug you could want to lay your hands on,” he said. Braitwaite was in care by the time he was eight, and spent his first night out on the streets aged 13. |
| I started taking drugs when I was 12, and I was 33 when I decided I needed to sort my life out. I’d seen it all by that point. Now on the streets I’m seeing the generation below me. The sons of the people I knew, I don’t want to see that. I want to help them, I just wish there was something I could do.” | I started taking drugs when I was 12, and I was 33 when I decided I needed to sort my life out. I’d seen it all by that point. Now on the streets I’m seeing the generation below me. The sons of the people I knew, I don’t want to see that. I want to help them, I just wish there was something I could do.” |
| His former partner died six years ago, a woman Braithwaite credits with showing him there was more to life than cycles of drugs and prison sentences. | His former partner died six years ago, a woman Braithwaite credits with showing him there was more to life than cycles of drugs and prison sentences. |
| She was the breath of fresh air I needed. I didn’t know how to ask for help until I met her. | She was the breath of fresh air I needed. I didn’t know how to ask for help until I met her. |
| Recently local residents had complained about anti-social behaviour, and Braithwaite said he had taken himself along to the local town meeting to put across the perspective of the homeless. | Recently local residents had complained about anti-social behaviour, and Braithwaite said he had taken himself along to the local town meeting to put across the perspective of the homeless. |
| It took me a long time to get to speak, but they finally saw me with my hand up and I spoke. And they had to acknowledge they don’t know it’s just homeless people urinating in public or causing the trouble. People are blinkered sometimes, they look through you and think you’re a bum. | It took me a long time to get to speak, but they finally saw me with my hand up and I spoke. And they had to acknowledge they don’t know it’s just homeless people urinating in public or causing the trouble. People are blinkered sometimes, they look through you and think you’re a bum. |
| 8.50pm GMT | 8.50pm GMT |
| 20:50 | 20:50 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| A quick word on international comparisons. Of course, this is not a British disease. Guardian data journalist Pamela Duncan reports that France has a comparable problem - around 81,000 homeless and just under 8,000 rough sleepers. | A quick word on international comparisons. Of course, this is not a British disease. Guardian data journalist Pamela Duncan reports that France has a comparable problem - around 81,000 homeless and just under 8,000 rough sleepers. |
| She has also drawn our attention to this ready reckoner, but I can’t really vouch for its accuracy. In any case, rough sleeping data for Europe has been transformed beyond all recognition by the migrant crisis so that official figures will be fairly meaningless. Still... | She has also drawn our attention to this ready reckoner, but I can’t really vouch for its accuracy. In any case, rough sleeping data for Europe has been transformed beyond all recognition by the migrant crisis so that official figures will be fairly meaningless. Still... |
| Further afield, US figures show that as a whole homelessness has been falling since 2007. But not in California, where more than 20% of the nations homeless population lives. | Further afield, US figures show that as a whole homelessness has been falling since 2007. But not in California, where more than 20% of the nations homeless population lives. |
| According to this latest report from our own west coast reporter Julia Wong, in California, 63.7% of the homeless population lacks shelter. | According to this latest report from our own west coast reporter Julia Wong, in California, 63.7% of the homeless population lacks shelter. |
| 8.34pm GMT | 8.34pm GMT |
| 20:34 | 20:34 |
| Kate Lyons | Kate Lyons |
| “We lost five people recently,” says Andrew Faris, the founder of Rhythms of Life, the cafe for homeless people in Hackney. “Nicky’s gone, Shaun’s gone, Michael’s gone...” he says. The men were sleeping rough on the streets of London and were lost to starvation or hypothermia. Shaun, who had been sleeping rough in Ridley Market, was only 23 when he died. | “We lost five people recently,” says Andrew Faris, the founder of Rhythms of Life, the cafe for homeless people in Hackney. “Nicky’s gone, Shaun’s gone, Michael’s gone...” he says. The men were sleeping rough on the streets of London and were lost to starvation or hypothermia. Shaun, who had been sleeping rough in Ridley Market, was only 23 when he died. |
| Another person who was part of their community, Rosa, also 23, who had been sleeping behind the Palace Theatre, died on Valentine’s Day. Despite repeated calls to the coroner’s office, Faris still doesn’t know how she died - they won’t release that information because he is not a relative. Rosa became homeless after fleeing from Leeds, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. Her stepfather abused her, she told Faris, and when she told her mother about the abuse, her mother kicked her out of the house. “We got her details, we passed them on to the authorities, we rang Streetlink, but they didn’t get there in time,” says Faris. “You know the way the rules are they have to see you sleeping rough for several night before you count as ‘homeless’, so they must’ve seen her night one, night two, but by night five it was too late.” | Another person who was part of their community, Rosa, also 23, who had been sleeping behind the Palace Theatre, died on Valentine’s Day. Despite repeated calls to the coroner’s office, Faris still doesn’t know how she died - they won’t release that information because he is not a relative. Rosa became homeless after fleeing from Leeds, where she lived with her mother and stepfather. Her stepfather abused her, she told Faris, and when she told her mother about the abuse, her mother kicked her out of the house. “We got her details, we passed them on to the authorities, we rang Streetlink, but they didn’t get there in time,” says Faris. “You know the way the rules are they have to see you sleeping rough for several night before you count as ‘homeless’, so they must’ve seen her night one, night two, but by night five it was too late.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.47pm GMT | at 8.47pm GMT |
| 8.28pm GMT | 8.28pm GMT |
| 20:28 | 20:28 |
| Jessica Elgot | Jessica Elgot |
| Homelessness isn’t just confined to inner cities and down-at-heel parts of the country. | Homelessness isn’t just confined to inner cities and down-at-heel parts of the country. |
| The picturesque North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate was named the happiest place to live in Britain in 2015, with its award-winning floral displays, Georgian architecture and the delicate pastries in Betty’s tea room all playing a part, as well as low crime and affluent residents. | The picturesque North Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate was named the happiest place to live in Britain in 2015, with its award-winning floral displays, Georgian architecture and the delicate pastries in Betty’s tea room all playing a part, as well as low crime and affluent residents. |
| But homelessness is prevalent, and rising in line with the national picture, caused by a lack of affordable housing in an area where property is often more expensive than other parts of the county. | But homelessness is prevalent, and rising in line with the national picture, caused by a lack of affordable housing in an area where property is often more expensive than other parts of the county. |
| In the early evening at the Springboard centre, 20 people are eating hot spicy meatballs and pasta off paper plates. Church groups take it in turns to buy and prepare the meal in the kitchen, but tonight a group of friends, led by colleagues Emma Hodgson and Wendy Hartley, are at the stove, stirring rice pudding. | In the early evening at the Springboard centre, 20 people are eating hot spicy meatballs and pasta off paper plates. Church groups take it in turns to buy and prepare the meal in the kitchen, but tonight a group of friends, led by colleagues Emma Hodgson and Wendy Hartley, are at the stove, stirring rice pudding. |
| “It’s a way to give something back, every 14 weeks or so, which doesn’t break the bank,” Hartley said. “In a town like this, I don’t think people really see it, they don’t realise something like this can go on.” | “It’s a way to give something back, every 14 weeks or so, which doesn’t break the bank,” Hartley said. “In a town like this, I don’t think people really see it, they don’t realise something like this can go on.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.49pm GMT | at 8.49pm GMT |
| 8.17pm GMT | 8.17pm GMT |
| 20:17 | 20:17 |
| Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff | Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff |
| Streetwork’s Crisis Centre in Edinburgh is a hidden little place, down near the Cowgate in the centre of town, but earlier this morning there was a queue outside the building. Their services - which include hot showers, washing machines, locker rooms and tasty pastries provided by the Manna House Bakery on Easter Road - are in demand. | Streetwork’s Crisis Centre in Edinburgh is a hidden little place, down near the Cowgate in the centre of town, but earlier this morning there was a queue outside the building. Their services - which include hot showers, washing machines, locker rooms and tasty pastries provided by the Manna House Bakery on Easter Road - are in demand. |
| “We’re especially busy earlier on because we fill in the gap after homeless people get kicked out of shelters - which are often churches in Edinburgh,” says Mike Bell, project manager at the centre. “There were probably about 15 people waiting this morning to have access to storage, shower, and link up with practitioners.” | “We’re especially busy earlier on because we fill in the gap after homeless people get kicked out of shelters - which are often churches in Edinburgh,” says Mike Bell, project manager at the centre. “There were probably about 15 people waiting this morning to have access to storage, shower, and link up with practitioners.” |
| There are conflicting opinions regarding figures on homelessness in Edinburgh. Shelter Scotland state that overall the number of people presenting as homeless to the council has reduced by 15% over the last five years, but they believe this to be due to a “renewed preventative approach rather than a change in the underlying drivers of homelessness”. | There are conflicting opinions regarding figures on homelessness in Edinburgh. Shelter Scotland state that overall the number of people presenting as homeless to the council has reduced by 15% over the last five years, but they believe this to be due to a “renewed preventative approach rather than a change in the underlying drivers of homelessness”. |
| Their latest figures, from 2014-15, show that less than 3% of people are now classed as rough sleepers, but there are currently Shelter posters up at Streetwork which claim the amount of rough sleepers in Edinburgh is increasing. Staff on the ground say the number of people they have encountered has been stable, if not rising, for many years. | Their latest figures, from 2014-15, show that less than 3% of people are now classed as rough sleepers, but there are currently Shelter posters up at Streetwork which claim the amount of rough sleepers in Edinburgh is increasing. Staff on the ground say the number of people they have encountered has been stable, if not rising, for many years. |
| This will give you a good idea of the scale of the problem,” says Bell, taking me through to their storage room. “These are purely for people who are street-based. One person, one compartment. It’s not a lot of space to have your whole world in.” | This will give you a good idea of the scale of the problem,” says Bell, taking me through to their storage room. “These are purely for people who are street-based. One person, one compartment. It’s not a lot of space to have your whole world in.” |
| The room is dark and stuffed to the rafters. Each compartment is packed with a different arrangement of clothes, suitcases and sleeping bags. | The room is dark and stuffed to the rafters. Each compartment is packed with a different arrangement of clothes, suitcases and sleeping bags. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.29pm GMT | at 8.29pm GMT |
| 8.14pm GMT | 8.14pm GMT |
| 20:14 | 20:14 |
| Kate Lyons | Kate Lyons |
| Still in the capital, Rhythms of Life community cafe in Hackney serves hot meals to homeless and disadvantaged people three nights a week, and lunch on Fridays. It’s one of many charities aiming to help the homeless of London. On any given night in autumn 2015, the last period for which figures are available, there were about 940 rough sleepers in the capital, which accounted for 26% of the total number across the country. The number of rough sleepers in London has increased 27% in the last year alone. | Still in the capital, Rhythms of Life community cafe in Hackney serves hot meals to homeless and disadvantaged people three nights a week, and lunch on Fridays. It’s one of many charities aiming to help the homeless of London. On any given night in autumn 2015, the last period for which figures are available, there were about 940 rough sleepers in the capital, which accounted for 26% of the total number across the country. The number of rough sleepers in London has increased 27% in the last year alone. |
| Tonight, about 20 people have turned up to Rhythms for Life for chicken, pumpkin, beans, and broccolli. | Tonight, about 20 people have turned up to Rhythms for Life for chicken, pumpkin, beans, and broccolli. |
| “Organic broccolli,” says founder Andrew Faris, who slept rough himself for a period. “It got delivered yesterday.” | “Organic broccolli,” says founder Andrew Faris, who slept rough himself for a period. “It got delivered yesterday.” |
| Not everyone who comes to Rhythms of Life is homeless, but for many the cafe plays a crucial role in keeping their heads above water, when every pound is counted and an emergency or - and this thought strikes terror into some at the cafe - benefit sanctions, could spell disaster for them.Sergio, 44, is not homeless. He lives in a council flat, but struggles to find work because he cannot read or write well. About five years ago he was homeless for a year. “Sometimes when it was cold I would ride the bus all night, there and back, there and back. Many times someone would say to me, ‘sorry sir you can’t stay, this is not a hotel. But it gets very cold in this country,” says Sergio, who is originally from Bogota, Colombia. Sergio has been coming to Rhythms of Life for about a year and comes along every day it is open, partly for the company - “I like the people, they’re very friendly, very helpful” - and partly because he receives “healthy meals”, which help keep him going.Michael, another regular cuts in to complain about how close to the line many people who visit the cafe are living.“If I didn’t have this place, I wouldn’t get nothing to eat. Or I would be getting up to badness out there to get food,” he says. | Not everyone who comes to Rhythms of Life is homeless, but for many the cafe plays a crucial role in keeping their heads above water, when every pound is counted and an emergency or - and this thought strikes terror into some at the cafe - benefit sanctions, could spell disaster for them.Sergio, 44, is not homeless. He lives in a council flat, but struggles to find work because he cannot read or write well. About five years ago he was homeless for a year. “Sometimes when it was cold I would ride the bus all night, there and back, there and back. Many times someone would say to me, ‘sorry sir you can’t stay, this is not a hotel. But it gets very cold in this country,” says Sergio, who is originally from Bogota, Colombia. Sergio has been coming to Rhythms of Life for about a year and comes along every day it is open, partly for the company - “I like the people, they’re very friendly, very helpful” - and partly because he receives “healthy meals”, which help keep him going.Michael, another regular cuts in to complain about how close to the line many people who visit the cafe are living.“If I didn’t have this place, I wouldn’t get nothing to eat. Or I would be getting up to badness out there to get food,” he says. |
| 8.11pm GMT | 8.11pm GMT |
| 20:11 | 20:11 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| Indeed, music as therapy is a big part of the homelessness scene. Guardian contributor Naomi Larsson writes about a London programme that, like many of its participants, faces an uncertain future. | Indeed, music as therapy is a big part of the homelessness scene. Guardian contributor Naomi Larsson writes about a London programme that, like many of its participants, faces an uncertain future. |
| Homeless people have been writing and recording songs in a London studio for seven years, having a safe space for creative self-expression. These songwriting workshops are run by company Lupus Albus using the recording studio in the basement of St Mungo’s Broadway hostel in Endell street. With close guidance from a tutor, the clients create and record a song, and come away with a CD of their own music. | Homeless people have been writing and recording songs in a London studio for seven years, having a safe space for creative self-expression. These songwriting workshops are run by company Lupus Albus using the recording studio in the basement of St Mungo’s Broadway hostel in Endell street. With close guidance from a tutor, the clients create and record a song, and come away with a CD of their own music. |
| But these workshops are now under threat of closure. Since St Mungo’s and Broadway merged in 2014 the charity has had to make cuts to services – songwriting workshops are no longer a priority. | But these workshops are now under threat of closure. Since St Mungo’s and Broadway merged in 2014 the charity has had to make cuts to services – songwriting workshops are no longer a priority. |
| Natalie Pilato from Lupus Albus believes creativity is “fundamental for someone to have a sense of self-worth and understand where they fit in society”. | Natalie Pilato from Lupus Albus believes creativity is “fundamental for someone to have a sense of self-worth and understand where they fit in society”. |
| “It’s important to commit to something, especially for homeless people who are used to having disrupted lives,” she says. | “It’s important to commit to something, especially for homeless people who are used to having disrupted lives,” she says. |
| In the morning clients discuss themes for songs with the tutor and musicians who work in the nearby Denmark Street music shops, before recording in the studio. | In the morning clients discuss themes for songs with the tutor and musicians who work in the nearby Denmark Street music shops, before recording in the studio. |
| Deborah has been coming to the workshops for two years. She is homeless, and lives here in the Endell Street hostel. “Coming to this project makes me feel a lot better in myself. It makes my day a happy day.” | Deborah has been coming to the workshops for two years. She is homeless, and lives here in the Endell Street hostel. “Coming to this project makes me feel a lot better in myself. It makes my day a happy day.” |
| Another regular client John writes a song about his anxieties. He worries about the future of these workshops. “Only in the last year have I really made progress in my recovery, and these workshops are a huge part of that.” | Another regular client John writes a song about his anxieties. He worries about the future of these workshops. “Only in the last year have I really made progress in my recovery, and these workshops are a huge part of that.” |
| 7.49pm GMT | 7.49pm GMT |
| 19:49 | 19:49 |
| Tonight we met... the Choir with no name | Tonight we met... the Choir with no name |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| In Birmingham, around 30 people are huddled in Carrs Lane Church, in the city centre. The two things they all have in common? They’ve currently homeless or have spent time on the streets - and they love belting out a good song. | In Birmingham, around 30 people are huddled in Carrs Lane Church, in the city centre. The two things they all have in common? They’ve currently homeless or have spent time on the streets - and they love belting out a good song. |
| They’re The Choir With No Name, a choir for homeless people that started in Birmingham five years ago after being founded in London in 2009. For some, it’s a lifeline - somewhere to socialise, sing and escape whatever misery they’re currently going through. | They’re The Choir With No Name, a choir for homeless people that started in Birmingham five years ago after being founded in London in 2009. For some, it’s a lifeline - somewhere to socialise, sing and escape whatever misery they’re currently going through. |
| And there’s more where that came from. Here they do a Bowie tribute... | And there’s more where that came from. Here they do a Bowie tribute... |
| ...while here they sing Lost and Found, a song they wrote about homelessness | ...while here they sing Lost and Found, a song they wrote about homelessness |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.57pm GMT | at 7.57pm GMT |
| 7.39pm GMT | 7.39pm GMT |
| 19:39 | 19:39 |
| Amelia Gentleman, who wrote a moving piece about homelessness this week, has been asking Sarah Macfadyen, policy manager with homelessness charity Crisis, for the reasons behind this new spike. | Amelia Gentleman, who wrote a moving piece about homelessness this week, has been asking Sarah Macfadyen, policy manager with homelessness charity Crisis, for the reasons behind this new spike. |
| 1) What has caused this sharp rise in rough sleeping? | 1) What has caused this sharp rise in rough sleeping? |
| More and more households are struggling to pay their rent in an increasingly insecure market – the loss of a private tenancy is now the number one cause of homelessness in England. Meanwhile cuts to housing benefit and local authority homelessness services and the implementation of benefits sanctions have left the safety net in tatters. | More and more households are struggling to pay their rent in an increasingly insecure market – the loss of a private tenancy is now the number one cause of homelessness in England. Meanwhile cuts to housing benefit and local authority homelessness services and the implementation of benefits sanctions have left the safety net in tatters. |
| 2) Is Crisis depressed to see this problem re-emerge, only a few years after a period of optimism about reductions in rough sleeping? | 2) Is Crisis depressed to see this problem re-emerge, only a few years after a period of optimism about reductions in rough sleeping? |
| The rise in rough sleeping is devastating- the realities of life on the streets are truly horrific: the average age of death of a homeless people is just 47, which is 30 years lower than the general population, while people who sleep rough are far more likely to be dependent on drugs or alcohol or to suffer from mental illness than the general population. Physical health conditions are common, particularly respiratory problems. | The rise in rough sleeping is devastating- the realities of life on the streets are truly horrific: the average age of death of a homeless people is just 47, which is 30 years lower than the general population, while people who sleep rough are far more likely to be dependent on drugs or alcohol or to suffer from mental illness than the general population. Physical health conditions are common, particularly respiratory problems. |
| Homeless people are over nine times more likely to commit suicide than the general population, deaths as a result of infections are twice as likely and they are 13 times more likely to be a victim of violence. | Homeless people are over nine times more likely to commit suicide than the general population, deaths as a result of infections are twice as likely and they are 13 times more likely to be a victim of violence. |
| 3) Who is to blame? | 3) Who is to blame? |
| We know that the economic downturn and the long term housing shortage has played a role, but what our research clearly shows is that political choices have a huge impact on homelessness. Recent research by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showed that benefit cuts are taking a dreadful toll on people’s lives, with rising numbers facing the loss of their home at a time when councils are being forced to cut services. | We know that the economic downturn and the long term housing shortage has played a role, but what our research clearly shows is that political choices have a huge impact on homelessness. Recent research by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation showed that benefit cuts are taking a dreadful toll on people’s lives, with rising numbers facing the loss of their home at a time when councils are being forced to cut services. |
| 4) What should the government do? | 4) What should the government do? |
| The Government has made positive steps towards tackling homelessness in recent months, but the latest rise in rough sleeping is a stark and sobering reminder of how much needs to be done. | The Government has made positive steps towards tackling homelessness in recent months, but the latest rise in rough sleeping is a stark and sobering reminder of how much needs to be done. |
| We urgently need a change in the law so that all homeless people can get the help they need. The shocking truth is that even in the 21st century, homeless people who ask their councils for help are being turned away to sleep on the streets. We also need to see funding protected and, critically, a wide-ranging reform of private renting | We urgently need a change in the law so that all homeless people can get the help they need. The shocking truth is that even in the 21st century, homeless people who ask their councils for help are being turned away to sleep on the streets. We also need to see funding protected and, critically, a wide-ranging reform of private renting |
| 5) How can people help when they see people sleeping rough? | 5) How can people help when they see people sleeping rough? |
| The best thing to do is to call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914, which helps connect rough sleepers to outreach services in their area. You can also donate to a local homelessness charity or volunteer. | The best thing to do is to call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914, which helps connect rough sleepers to outreach services in their area. You can also donate to a local homelessness charity or volunteer. |
| 7.24pm GMT | 7.24pm GMT |
| 19:24 | 19:24 |
| Tonight we met... Adekola Adepoju | Tonight we met... Adekola Adepoju |
| Josh Halliday | Josh Halliday |
| Growing up in Nigeria, Adekola Adepoju – or Kola to his mates – appeared destined for greatness. He was top of his class in almost every subject, representing his school in everything from debating to dance (he does a mean robot). | Growing up in Nigeria, Adekola Adepoju – or Kola to his mates – appeared destined for greatness. He was top of his class in almost every subject, representing his school in everything from debating to dance (he does a mean robot). |
| But then, on 29 December 2003, everything changed. And it changed dramatically. Then 20 years old, Kola was driving to the beach with a friend when their car smashed into roadworks, sending it spinning through the air. His right femur was broken; his right ankle obliterated. The injuries to his head were grave: large scars are still visible on the base and right-side of his skull, where his hair cannot grow back. | But then, on 29 December 2003, everything changed. And it changed dramatically. Then 20 years old, Kola was driving to the beach with a friend when their car smashed into roadworks, sending it spinning through the air. His right femur was broken; his right ankle obliterated. The injuries to his head were grave: large scars are still visible on the base and right-side of his skull, where his hair cannot grow back. |
| The accident left him in intensive care for three months. When he was released, he could not walk or recognise his own mother. Once the poster boy of his school, Kola had to relearn his ABCs. | The accident left him in intensive care for three months. When he was released, he could not walk or recognise his own mother. Once the poster boy of his school, Kola had to relearn his ABCs. |
| I believe there will always be challenges but I don’t let the negative thoughts weigh me down,” he says in the homeless drop-in centre, Sifa Fireside, in Birmingham. “I keep focusing on the positives. I know I don’t pay for the air that I breathe through my nose so I thank god for that. I always think: today will be hard but tomorrow will be better.” | I believe there will always be challenges but I don’t let the negative thoughts weigh me down,” he says in the homeless drop-in centre, Sifa Fireside, in Birmingham. “I keep focusing on the positives. I know I don’t pay for the air that I breathe through my nose so I thank god for that. I always think: today will be hard but tomorrow will be better.” |
| Kola, now 32, has been homeless in Birmingham for four years. He came to Britain in 2009 to study at Anglia Ruskin university in Cambridge on a scholarship paid for by his secondary school in Nigeria, so proud are they of his intellect. | Kola, now 32, has been homeless in Birmingham for four years. He came to Britain in 2009 to study at Anglia Ruskin university in Cambridge on a scholarship paid for by his secondary school in Nigeria, so proud are they of his intellect. |
| The Anglia Ruskin degree didn’t work out – all the classes were full – so he moved to Dudley to start a course at Computeach, the IT training provider, while working nights at McDonalds. Then, one night after work, he returned to his rented flat to find the locks had been changed. He had been evicted without notice. The landlord, he says, gave him no explanation. | The Anglia Ruskin degree didn’t work out – all the classes were full – so he moved to Dudley to start a course at Computeach, the IT training provider, while working nights at McDonalds. Then, one night after work, he returned to his rented flat to find the locks had been changed. He had been evicted without notice. The landlord, he says, gave him no explanation. |
| “That’s what rendered me homeless,” he says. “I had my laptops. I couldn’t carry all my luggage. That’s when I went to Birmingham and went to sleep in the park in Selly Oak.” | “That’s what rendered me homeless,” he says. “I had my laptops. I couldn’t carry all my luggage. That’s when I went to Birmingham and went to sleep in the park in Selly Oak.” |
| He would eat from a dustbin behind McDonalds until staff realised what he was doing, installed CCTV cameras and then called the police who, he says, arrested him on the spot. For three years after that Kola slept on the first-floor of a multi-storey car park. He would be woken every night by other homeless men drinking, shouting, having sex on the level above. He was robbed twice by a group of rough sleepers. | He would eat from a dustbin behind McDonalds until staff realised what he was doing, installed CCTV cameras and then called the police who, he says, arrested him on the spot. For three years after that Kola slept on the first-floor of a multi-storey car park. He would be woken every night by other homeless men drinking, shouting, having sex on the level above. He was robbed twice by a group of rough sleepers. |
| “There was five or six people – I could not beat five or six people. They beat me and removed by laptop, another took my phone, then they were gone”. | “There was five or six people – I could not beat five or six people. They beat me and removed by laptop, another took my phone, then they were gone”. |
| Only in recent months, after he walked through the doors at the Birmingham-based charity Sifa Fireside, has Kola been able to find a hostel. He has no recourse to public funds – nor does he want to claim benefits – so most places won’t put a roof over his head. He has a job interview lined up in the next few weeks so soon he hopes he will be able to pay his way. | Only in recent months, after he walked through the doors at the Birmingham-based charity Sifa Fireside, has Kola been able to find a hostel. He has no recourse to public funds – nor does he want to claim benefits – so most places won’t put a roof over his head. He has a job interview lined up in the next few weeks so soon he hopes he will be able to pay his way. |
| Everything Kola has faced would be enough to finish most people off. But he remains positive. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. He reads chess books and is almost surgically attached to his headphones. He’s not on benefits and is saddened by other rough sleepers who spend their handout on drink or drugs. | Everything Kola has faced would be enough to finish most people off. But he remains positive. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs. He reads chess books and is almost surgically attached to his headphones. He’s not on benefits and is saddened by other rough sleepers who spend their handout on drink or drugs. |
| “You can only go up or go down. David Cameron does not have three heads – he has one head just like me. It’s because of the decisions he took that got him where he is today. We determine our outcome by ourselves every second, of every hour, of every day. | “You can only go up or go down. David Cameron does not have three heads – he has one head just like me. It’s because of the decisions he took that got him where he is today. We determine our outcome by ourselves every second, of every hour, of every day. |
| 7.22pm GMT | 7.22pm GMT |
| 19:22 | 19:22 |
| Steven Morris | Steven Morris |
| There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Bristol. Ninety seven were recorded in the latest street count – the highest number outside London. In 2013 and 2014 the figure was 41; between 2010 and 2012 it was just eight or nine. | There has been a dramatic increase in the number of people sleeping rough in Bristol. Ninety seven were recorded in the latest street count – the highest number outside London. In 2013 and 2014 the figure was 41; between 2010 and 2012 it was just eight or nine. |
| The actual figure will be more than 97 – sofa surfers are not included and the counting team does not go into unsafe buildings and squats. | The actual figure will be more than 97 – sofa surfers are not included and the counting team does not go into unsafe buildings and squats. |
| In addition there has been a doubling in the last three years of the number of households who present to the city council as homeless or at risk of being homeless. This totals around 5,000 now. | In addition there has been a doubling in the last three years of the number of households who present to the city council as homeless or at risk of being homeless. This totals around 5,000 now. |
| The city council pays for between 300 and 400 “bed and breakfast” places (the correct term is “nightly purchased accommodation”) every day. It also purchases 1,100 units for people who are being helped out of homelessness and into longer-term accommodation. | The city council pays for between 300 and 400 “bed and breakfast” places (the correct term is “nightly purchased accommodation”) every day. It also purchases 1,100 units for people who are being helped out of homelessness and into longer-term accommodation. |
| Why is there such a problem in Bristol? The bottom line is that the amount of permanent, affordable accommodation his shrinking. | Why is there such a problem in Bristol? The bottom line is that the amount of permanent, affordable accommodation his shrinking. |
| Firstly, the availability of social housing. Three or four years ago 3,000 homes became available every year – ie new ones were built or people moved out. That figure will fall to below 2,000 this year. New social housing is not being built and people already in social housing are staying put. | Firstly, the availability of social housing. Three or four years ago 3,000 homes became available every year – ie new ones were built or people moved out. That figure will fall to below 2,000 this year. New social housing is not being built and people already in social housing are staying put. |
| And in the private sector rents have gone sky high. Mainly because Bristol is booming, more people with money are moving in and landlords are putting up rents. | And in the private sector rents have gone sky high. Mainly because Bristol is booming, more people with money are moving in and landlords are putting up rents. |
| It used to be that the biggest reasons for homelessness were young people being kicked out of home or people fleeing domestic violence. Those still significant but are being outstripped by people losing private sector tenancies. | It used to be that the biggest reasons for homelessness were young people being kicked out of home or people fleeing domestic violence. Those still significant but are being outstripped by people losing private sector tenancies. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.51pm GMT | at 7.51pm GMT |
| 7.14pm GMT | 7.14pm GMT |
| 19:14 | 19:14 |
| Caroline Bannock | Caroline Bannock |
| If you’ve experienced homelessness, or work with homeless people, we’d like to hear from you. You can share your stories with us by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button on this article. We’ll include as many as we can in the live blog. | If you’ve experienced homelessness, or work with homeless people, we’d like to hear from you. You can share your stories with us by clicking on the ‘Contribute’ button on this article. We’ll include as many as we can in the live blog. |
| Otherwise, stay with us as we take a quick tour of the country and find out who our correspondents have been meeting. | Otherwise, stay with us as we take a quick tour of the country and find out who our correspondents have been meeting. |
| 7.07pm GMT | 7.07pm GMT |
| 19:07 | 19:07 |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| First things first: the numbers. Counting the homeless is not straightforward. There seem to be at least three different measures. Firstly, rough sleepers. This number is a snapshot of people sleeping on the streets on any given night. It was recorded at 3,569 in England in 2015 - double what it was in 2010. | First things first: the numbers. Counting the homeless is not straightforward. There seem to be at least three different measures. Firstly, rough sleepers. This number is a snapshot of people sleeping on the streets on any given night. It was recorded at 3,569 in England in 2015 - double what it was in 2010. |
| But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the Guardian’s social policy editor Patrick Butler explained earlier this week. Beyond that, there are thousands more - 54,000 households at the last count - of people who have been granted assistance from local authorities to address their housing needs. Many (5,910) live in B&Bs while they await more permanent solutions. Others sit it out in mobile homes, lodgings, and other improvised solutions. | But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as the Guardian’s social policy editor Patrick Butler explained earlier this week. Beyond that, there are thousands more - 54,000 households at the last count - of people who have been granted assistance from local authorities to address their housing needs. Many (5,910) live in B&Bs while they await more permanent solutions. Others sit it out in mobile homes, lodgings, and other improvised solutions. |
| But of course not everyone is accepted under these “statutory homeless” arrangements. The Crisis charity reported that a total of 275,000 people needed help last year to address some aspect of housing insecurity. | But of course not everyone is accepted under these “statutory homeless” arrangements. The Crisis charity reported that a total of 275,000 people needed help last year to address some aspect of housing insecurity. |
| Perhaps the most striking figure of all is not about homelessness at all. At the latest count there are 610,000 empty properties in England. | Perhaps the most striking figure of all is not about homelessness at all. At the latest count there are 610,000 empty properties in England. |
| 7.04pm GMT | 7.04pm GMT |
| 19:04 | 19:04 |
| Introduction | Introduction |
| Mark Rice-Oxley | Mark Rice-Oxley |
| Good evening. Welcome to this rolling report about homelessness and rough sleeping. | Good evening. Welcome to this rolling report about homelessness and rough sleeping. |
| We thought scenes like these were on the way out, after the good years of the 1990s and 2000s, when homelessness felt like it was becoming a thing of the past. | We thought scenes like these were on the way out, after the good years of the 1990s and 2000s, when homelessness felt like it was becoming a thing of the past. |
| Not so. This outward visible sign of our inability to look after the most vulnerable in society is back and spreading. Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and of course London - nowhere it seems is immune. And not just the big metropolises either. Our inbox has been inundated in the last 24 hours by people from Swindon, Canterbury, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham, Oxford... This graph might explain why: | Not so. This outward visible sign of our inability to look after the most vulnerable in society is back and spreading. Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and of course London - nowhere it seems is immune. And not just the big metropolises either. Our inbox has been inundated in the last 24 hours by people from Swindon, Canterbury, Cambridge, Brighton, Bristol, Nottingham, Oxford... This graph might explain why: |
| In short, it’s a bleak picture out there. So for the next six hours or so, we’ll be reporting from around the country on the homeless. Who are they? Do they all sleep rough? How many? Why? And, as ever, what is to be done? We’ll be hearing from people with no roof over their heads tonight, from others who rebuilt their lives after homelessness - and from the inspiring people who quietly work to help both. | In short, it’s a bleak picture out there. So for the next six hours or so, we’ll be reporting from around the country on the homeless. Who are they? Do they all sleep rough? How many? Why? And, as ever, what is to be done? We’ll be hearing from people with no roof over their heads tonight, from others who rebuilt their lives after homelessness - and from the inspiring people who quietly work to help both. |
| Do get in touch with our team, who are: Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) in Birmingham, Charlie Cuff (@CharlieBCuff) in Edinburgh, Steve Morris (@stevenmorris20) in Bristol, Jessica Elgot (@JessicaElgot) in Harrogate and Kate Lyons (@MsKateLyons) in London. I’m Mark Rice-Oxley (@markriceoxley69) at the controls. | Do get in touch with our team, who are: Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) in Birmingham, Charlie Cuff (@CharlieBCuff) in Edinburgh, Steve Morris (@stevenmorris20) in Bristol, Jessica Elgot (@JessicaElgot) in Harrogate and Kate Lyons (@MsKateLyons) in London. I’m Mark Rice-Oxley (@markriceoxley69) at the controls. |