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| We know how to solve homelessness. So why aren't we doing it? | |
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| Traditionally, becoming homeless was often the result of a crisis: alcohol and drug dependency or mental breakdown led to people losing their home and hitting rock bottom, and ending up sleeping on the street. But this is no longer the case. | Traditionally, becoming homeless was often the result of a crisis: alcohol and drug dependency or mental breakdown led to people losing their home and hitting rock bottom, and ending up sleeping on the street. But this is no longer the case. |
| Last week the local government ombudsman warned that working families were increasingly finding themselves with nowhere to live, after losing their private sector tenancy. All it takes is the whim of a landlord, a period of ill health, or a financial emergency in the home to shift you from “just about managing” to not managing at all. Healthcare workers and porters are vital for the running of hospitals, but friends in the sector report that low-paid colleagues are reliant on food banks and walking long distances to work just to make rent. Meanwhile, there has been a surge in youth homelessness and destitution among asylum seekers, the subject of this year’s Guardian and Observer Christmas charity appeal. | Last week the local government ombudsman warned that working families were increasingly finding themselves with nowhere to live, after losing their private sector tenancy. All it takes is the whim of a landlord, a period of ill health, or a financial emergency in the home to shift you from “just about managing” to not managing at all. Healthcare workers and porters are vital for the running of hospitals, but friends in the sector report that low-paid colleagues are reliant on food banks and walking long distances to work just to make rent. Meanwhile, there has been a surge in youth homelessness and destitution among asylum seekers, the subject of this year’s Guardian and Observer Christmas charity appeal. |
| The latest figures show that there are now 79,150 homeless households in temporary accommodation. And according to the ombudsman, too many are being placed in “totally Dickensian housing conditions” by local authorities. Vulnerable people should not be housed in bed and breakfast rooms infested with cockroaches and no working shower, or in squalid, damp or dangerous accommodation. | The latest figures show that there are now 79,150 homeless households in temporary accommodation. And according to the ombudsman, too many are being placed in “totally Dickensian housing conditions” by local authorities. Vulnerable people should not be housed in bed and breakfast rooms infested with cockroaches and no working shower, or in squalid, damp or dangerous accommodation. |
| In 2004, the Labour government introduced laws prohibiting the use of B&Bs except in extreme circumstances, and then for a maximum of six weeks. But 13 years on, some families are spending six months crowded into one room, sharing washing facilities and filthy kitchens. It’s no life for anyone, least of all people trying to raise young children. If the human suffering isn’t enough to enrage you, the fact that councils spend far more on temporary accommodation than standard accommodation should cause outrage. | In 2004, the Labour government introduced laws prohibiting the use of B&Bs except in extreme circumstances, and then for a maximum of six weeks. But 13 years on, some families are spending six months crowded into one room, sharing washing facilities and filthy kitchens. It’s no life for anyone, least of all people trying to raise young children. If the human suffering isn’t enough to enrage you, the fact that councils spend far more on temporary accommodation than standard accommodation should cause outrage. |
| The Tories' homelessness legislation is a facade, an attempt to make the right noises in the face of public anger | The Tories' homelessness legislation is a facade, an attempt to make the right noises in the face of public anger |
| And those in temporary accommodation are the lucky ones; all too often, councils’ limited resources mean many homeless people are turned away, including women fleeing domestic violence: one woman with three children was told that since she could return to her abusive ex-partner she was not homeless, and the campaign group Sisters Uncut report that despite experiencing a higher rate of domestic violence, homeless people with learning difficulties are more likely to be turned away as local authorities feel they do not have the resources to provide the appropriate care. | And those in temporary accommodation are the lucky ones; all too often, councils’ limited resources mean many homeless people are turned away, including women fleeing domestic violence: one woman with three children was told that since she could return to her abusive ex-partner she was not homeless, and the campaign group Sisters Uncut report that despite experiencing a higher rate of domestic violence, homeless people with learning difficulties are more likely to be turned away as local authorities feel they do not have the resources to provide the appropriate care. |
| The government claims it is providing more than £1bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and that its Homelessness Reduction Act is the “most ambitious legislation in decades”. While the requirement from April 2018 that all local authorities uphold their duty to rehouse people presenting as homeless is a noble aim, the pitiful funding accompanying it is unlikely to change much. | The government claims it is providing more than £1bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping and that its Homelessness Reduction Act is the “most ambitious legislation in decades”. While the requirement from April 2018 that all local authorities uphold their duty to rehouse people presenting as homeless is a noble aim, the pitiful funding accompanying it is unlikely to change much. |
| Everyone in government refuses to accept the multiple causes of homelessness, focusing instead on dependency issues and how difficult street homelessness can be to eradicate. What is infuriating is that we know how to solve homelessness: by giving people affordable, secure homes. But allowing employers to pay people a pittance on zero-hour contracts, forcing through universal credit, flogging social housing and paying housing benefit to private landlords creates a perfect storm of homelessness for people in all walks of life. | Everyone in government refuses to accept the multiple causes of homelessness, focusing instead on dependency issues and how difficult street homelessness can be to eradicate. What is infuriating is that we know how to solve homelessness: by giving people affordable, secure homes. But allowing employers to pay people a pittance on zero-hour contracts, forcing through universal credit, flogging social housing and paying housing benefit to private landlords creates a perfect storm of homelessness for people in all walks of life. |
| Forcing through endless cuts, both to the income of families in work and the councils that try to house them, is the cause of most homelessness. Even before cuts were enacted, public services and charities warned this would be the case. The government’s homelessness legislation, far from being ambitious, is simply window-dressing, attempting to make the right noises in the face of public anger at the devastating results of the Conservatives’ cruel policies. | Forcing through endless cuts, both to the income of families in work and the councils that try to house them, is the cause of most homelessness. Even before cuts were enacted, public services and charities warned this would be the case. The government’s homelessness legislation, far from being ambitious, is simply window-dressing, attempting to make the right noises in the face of public anger at the devastating results of the Conservatives’ cruel policies. |
| Households become homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation because council finances and a lack of social housing make it impossible to house everyone. The Welsh assembly has just passed a bill banning the right to buy to protect the social housing stock for those who need it – and Scotland has also scrapped the scheme. But in England, the Conservatives have turbo-charged it, extending the right to buy from council homes to those living in housing association properties. | Households become homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation because council finances and a lack of social housing make it impossible to house everyone. The Welsh assembly has just passed a bill banning the right to buy to protect the social housing stock for those who need it – and Scotland has also scrapped the scheme. But in England, the Conservatives have turbo-charged it, extending the right to buy from council homes to those living in housing association properties. |
| Homelessness has exploded, both in terms of the numbers sleeping rough, but also for families and households who traditionally would be able to buy homes, put away savings and have a good standard of living. Benefit cuts have made the already precarious destitute, and the inbuilt six-week wait for universal credit has ramped up the issue. Homelessness can happen to almost anyone, because work doesn’t pay and renting doesn’t provide security. To fix the problem, there needs to be better workers’ pay and conditions – but also tenancy rights to prevent evictions in pursuit of profit. | Homelessness has exploded, both in terms of the numbers sleeping rough, but also for families and households who traditionally would be able to buy homes, put away savings and have a good standard of living. Benefit cuts have made the already precarious destitute, and the inbuilt six-week wait for universal credit has ramped up the issue. Homelessness can happen to almost anyone, because work doesn’t pay and renting doesn’t provide security. To fix the problem, there needs to be better workers’ pay and conditions – but also tenancy rights to prevent evictions in pursuit of profit. |
| To donate to the Christmas appeal go to guardian.charitiestrust.org | To donate to the Christmas appeal go to guardian.charitiestrust.org |