Homelessness: the facts
Monday 18 April 2005
When people think of the homeless, they usually think of people who 'sleep rough' on the streets. You don't have to be sleeping on the streets to be classed as homeless. Street homelessness is what most of us come into contact with on a daily basis, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. Homelessness affects hundreds of thousands of families and individuals every year.
Insecure housing
Some people may not be sleeping rough, but they are often living in what is known as insecure housing, such as a squat or a hostel. As far as the government is concerned, you are classed as homeless if you are living in the types of insecure housing mentioned above, or even if you are relying on friends and family to give you a bed or sofa for the night (after all, they might eventually ask you to leave).
A council is likely to consider you as homeless if your accommodation is unsuitable because of severe overcrowding or because of threats of violence from family or neighbours.
What causes homelessness?
Homelessness can be caused by many factors, such as domestic violence, loss of income, the break-up of a relationship or disputes with parents. New laws have been brought in to reduce the number of homeless people living on the streets, but the problem of homelessness (in all its forms) still exists.
If you are about to become homeless, or you are homeless now, you need to get in touch with an organisation that can help you.
Calling Connexions Direct on 080 800 13-2-19 will put you in touch with an adviser who can talk you through your options.
You could also call the helpline of housing organisation, Shelter, on 080 8800 4444, which provides free advice on your rights and options 24 hours a day.
The council
Another option is to call your local council's housing team. Under the Housing Act 1996, local councils and authorities must try to find housing for homeless people. Priority housing is given to young people who are 16 or 17 years old, care leavers between the ages of 18 and 20 and families with children under the age of 16.
Homeless under 16s should be helped by the social services department of their local council. Their number can be found in the phone book. In emergencies, young people can contact the Shelter line or the police for help in contacting social services.
If you would like to volunteer to work on projects helping the homeless, some of our links should point you in the right direction. You can also ask your local council about any ongoing community work.
