What Causes Homelessness?
Homelessness is damaging, dangerous and detrimental to individuals and communities.
But it’s not unavoidable. In most cases, the causes of homelessness are preventable.
Before we explore these causes and their remedies, it’s essential to understand what homelessness means.
What is homelessness?
Although rough sleeping is the most visible form, the majority of people experiencing homelessness don’t sleep on the streets. Rough sleeping accounts for less than 1% of homelessness in the UK.
Many people experiencing homelessness are ‘sofa-surfing’, living in temporary accommodation or sleeping out of sight in unsafe locations.
To change perceptions and address the homelessness crisis, we must acknowledge that not all people facing homelessness encounter the same situations and challenges.
What causes homelessness?
A combination of structural, social, and individual factors contribute to homelessness in the UK. These issues cause people immense stress and strain.
Key factors include:
Housing Shortage and Affordability
There is a chronic lack of affordable housing across the UK. High property prices and rents, particularly in cities, make it an uphill battle for people on low incomes to secure housing.
Over 1 million people are waiting for social homes – including over 145,000 children.
Successive governments’ failure to build adequate social housing has left millions without access to safe, stable, financially-accessible housing. Meanwhile, short tenancy agreements and ‘no fault’ evictions can leave people struggling to find a place to call home.
Eviction from a privately rented home is one of the leading causes of homelessness.
Welfare Reforms
Changes to the welfare system, including the introduction of Universal Credit and the capping of housing benefits, have left many people struggling to cover their housing costs. Delays and reductions in benefits often push individuals into rent arrears and eventual eviction.
Economic Factors
Economic downturns and unemployment lead many people to financial instability. Inadequate wages and job insecurity are also critical factors in people’s inability to afford housing.
The continued rise of zero-hour contracts and increased living costs means many people don’t have a regular income, making it a struggle to manage budgets and maintain housing payments.
Social Factors
Family Breakdown
Relationship breakdowns, domestic abuse, and family conflicts are significant contributors to homelessness. Individuals in abusive relationships may have no choice but to leave their homes.
If you’re experiencing domestic abuse, you can find YMCA Together’s advice and support services here.
Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Problems
Mental health issues and substance abuse problems can lead to homelessness. People with severe mental health conditions or with active involvement in alcohol or illicit drug misuse may struggle to maintain employment and housing.
Click here for advice and support for drug and alcohol problems. For mental health advice and support, click here.
Individual Factors
Personal Circumstances
Personal crises, such as job loss, illness, or grief, can lead to homelessness-especially if there is no support network available. People who lack strong social networks or support from family and friends are more vulnerable to becoming homeless when facing financial or personal difficulties.
Systemic Issues
Inadequate Support Services
Insufficient funding for support services, including mental health care, addiction treatment, and employment assistance, leaves many individuals without the help they need to avoid or break free from homelessness.
Ineffective Homelessness Prevention Strategies
A lack of effective early intervention and prevention strategies can result in people slipping through the cracks and ending up homeless.
Discrimination and Inequality
LGBTQ+ people and people of colour are more likely to struggle to find a safe, secure home.
Individuals leaving institutions such as prisons, care systems, or hospitals without proper support and reintegration plans are at high risk of experiencing homelessness.
How can we end homelessness?
As we’ve outlined in this article, homelessness in the UK is a complex issue. People experience homelessness due to economic conditions, housing policies, social dynamics, and individual circumstances.
Addressing homelessness requires a comprehensive approach that includes increasing affordable housing, reforming welfare policies, providing robust support services, and implementing effective prevention strategies.
Everybody deserves a safe place to live. Through positive action, education and political will, we can eradicate homelessness for good. But we can only achieve this by working together, and by starting now.
Take positive action – Volunteer at YMCA Together
Give hope to people experiencing homelessness and challenging times. We have volunteer roles to suit everyone’s skills.
Educate your team – YMCA Together Training and Consultancy
Take a modern approach to benefit the people you support, with our psychologically-informed working courses or 6-month Cognitive Analytic Therapy Case Management Course.
Demand political intervention – Speak to your MP.
Join us in demanding that the new Labour government keep their manifesto promise to scrap section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions and take ‘fast action to make renters better off’.
YMCA Together offers unconditional support to people experiencing challenging times. Our services provide advice and support for people facing:
YMCA Together – here for you, wherever you’re at.