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Homelessness 'set to increase in 2009'

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Whatever you're going through, whether it's big or small, don't bottle it up. We are here for you if you're worried about something, feel upset or confused, or just want to talk to someone.

Financial worries
A new study conducted on behalf of homeless charity Crisis has predicted that an increasing number of people will face homelessness in the New Year.

According to an online YouGov survey of 2,015 adults, nine per cent of UK residents are already struggling to keep on top of their mortgage repayments as the recession deepens, with 28 per cent of low income families worried that losing their home is a realistic possibility.

Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, commented: "The economic downturn is hitting the poorest the hardest. Many are struggling to keep their homes. The situation is only made worse by pressure on jobs, with unemployment levels set to reach two million by the end of the year.

"Our fear is that as the recession bites in the New Year we are going to see more people in the same situation … while those already at the bottom of the pile are going to be further away from the help and support they need to put their lives back together."

Recession hitting rich and poor
However, the research also shows that it is not just low income families who are concerned that they may be facing homelessness in 2009. 21 per cent of higher income groups listed losing their home as one of their chief concerns during the economic downturn, while 32.4 per cent of participants in the study claimed that the loss of their job would result in homelessness within three months.

Those feeling emotionally distressed by the current economic conditions may find it useful to contact Samaritans. A spokesperson from the support service comments: "If someone feels unable to talk to friends or family, perhaps because they do not want to be a burden, this is where Samaritans can help.

"Our trained volunteers are available 24 hours a day and can give people the time and space to explore their feelings in confidence and work out the way forward."

Coping with unhappiness
Homelessness can often be viewed as a way out for those with unhappy home lives, according to another recent study by London Metropolitan University, commissioned by Crisis, entitled Valuable Lives: Capabilities Resilience Amongst Single Homeless People. The study found that more than half of people living on the streets in the UK experienced difficult childhoods, including the death of at least one parent, being placed in care, or living with an abusive parent.

However, the same research also showed that life on the streets can actually decrease a person's ability to overcome pre-existing difficulties and in fact intensify their emotional ill-health by adding a complex new set of problems. It concluded that the problem of being homeless impedes people's ability to make changes to other important areas of their lives, as it reduces their skills base, worsens their health and decreases their ability to think about securing employment. Two-thirds of the men interviewed for the survey reported that they had lost their self-esteem through the experience of being homeless.

Additional reasons for homelessness
A 2005 estimate by Crisis set the number of homeless people in the UK at 380,000, which includes those sleeping in hostels, bed and breakfasts, squats, on friends' floors and in drop-in shelters. Of these, it is estimated that approximately 460 are faced with no option but to sleep in the open air on streets around the UK, with half sleeping rough in London.

Crisis states that other factors which increase the risk of a person being made homeless include: institutionalisation or time in care, criminal convictions, service in the Armed Forces, drug or alcohol addiction, mental health problems, physical or sexual abuse, bereavement, relationship breakdown, debt and a lack of social support.

A recent assessment by researchers at the University of Oxford, which analysed evidence presented in 29 separate studies across the US, UK, mainland Europe and Australia , found that homeless people in western countries are far more likely to be suffering from serious mental health conditions than anywhere else in the world. Alcohol and drug abuse were classified as mental health problems in the research, and found to be by far the most prevalent conditions. Alcohol abuse affected 37.9 per cent, while drug abuse affected a reported 24.4 per cent of the 5,500 study participants.

Political intervention
The Conservative party, which recently produced a twelve-point plan for tackling homelessness, acknowledged a variety of reasons that people end up living on the streets. It also accused the Government of not doing enough to tackle the problem.

In an interview with the Today programme on Radio 4, Shadow Housing Minister Grant Shapps commented: "Last Christmas Eve I slept rough, just to experience homelessness for one night. [It is] not something that I would want to do more permanently.

"Back in May David Cameron and I set up the Homelessness Foundation, with an advisory panel made up of all of the leading homelessness charities, like Shelter and Crisis, and one of the very obvious things is you cannot tackle homelessness just by having a Housing Minister and some good intentions, you have got to tackle it across Whitehall."

He added that there are many reasons that people became homeless, and that greater awareness of these varying circumstances is needed, including "for example, returning servicemen that have been on active duty [and] where they are in the housing queue". He further commented that increased support is needed to ensure that those faced with the prospect of life on the streets are enabled to change their situation.

Source of help
For those currently experiencing any conditions which they fear may result in their being made homeless, be it by choice or by force, the Samaritans are on hand to offer emotional support as they try to work out the best course of action. The phone line offers a confidential, non-judgemental service which allows people to talk through their problems and gain emotional release. Figures from the charity show that 70 per cent of callers feel better enabled to cope with their problems after calling the service. Those who need practical support dealing with housing issues can also call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444.

A Samaritans spokesperson said: "Talking openly about overwhelming feelings, without being judged, can be a huge relief and is often the first step in finding a way to cope.

"Our volunteers do not tell people what to do; this is because we believe in supporting people to make their own decisions wherever possible and to find constructive ways forward."

If you are in need of emotional support and would like to talk to someone in confidence, you can call Samaritans on 08457 909090 or 1850 609090 (ROI).

Homelessness 'set to increase in 2009'

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