Homelessness: The Bigger Picture

Stop ten people in the street and ask them, “When you think of a homeless person, what comes to mind?” 9/10 times, their answer will be along the lines of (1) a male, (2) sleeping rough, (3) with a drug or alcohol addiction. The problem is: that this common perception of homelessness is, in fact, the tiniest fraction of the larger reality of homelessness.

The true picture of homelessness is so much bigger. It’s a picture of those who are often hidden. The silently abused, the families evicted, those living in temporary accommodation or those “sofa surfing”. In this post, we’ll explore the big picture of homelessness, why it’s so important, and what we can do to broaden the public perception of it.

Why The Bigger Picture of Homelessness Matters

The facts are clear: in 2023, Shelter UK found that only 0.8% of people experiencing homelessness in England were rough sleepers. Yet—the stigmas and stereotypes around homelessness are still so pervasive.

Why is the misperception a problem? Because when the largest fractions of those homeless are being under-represented—inevitably, it’s harder to support them. Without the right statistics, there can’t be the right plans, the right budgets, and the allocation of resources. And with an ever-rising cost of living—it’s more important than ever that we understand the complete picture of homelessness. So everyone can be accounted for. And so, every person without a home gets the support they need to end this social crisis.

Under-Representation of Women

Perhaps people’s biggest misperception of homelessness is that it’s a “male” problem. But the reality? According to a first-of-its-kind report by the Single Homelessness Project (SHP), there are many more homeless women than we realise.

In December 2022, the report surveyed how many female rough sleepers were seen in London. In just one week, the census counted 154—much more than initially expected.

But the realisation was more significant: this number was also bound to be an under-representation.

So, Why the Discrepancy? 

One reason is: that they’re often hidden. Compared to men, homeless women feel more at risk & vulnerable. Michell, a 45-year-old rough sleeper found in North London, said: “I had to hide because there were always people shouting at me and men trying to attack me.” Women are also more likely to experience temporary & intermittent homelessness. They’re often dubbed “sofa surfers”—those staying with family and friends because they have no other option. But what usually begins as a short-term solution often becomes an unstable, long-term way of life.

The root causes of homelessness in women are usually domestic violence and the breakdown of relationships. And in those scenarios—they’re often forced to leave behind their possessions and support network, making it all the harder to get back to independence.

Families with Low Income

Rough sleepers aside. Female sofa surfers aside. By far, the largest group of homeless people are families. In the latest research done by Shelter UK, from the 275,000 homeless in England, 92% of those in temporary accommodation are mostly families. Specifically: single mothers with children.

One of the biggest reasons for their homelessness is domestic abuse—as seen to be the common cause for homeless females in general. But another big reason is that single mothers are often on the fringes of economic margins. The burden of supporting their children is entirely on them. And with low incomes, they’re often brought face-to-face with two choices: pay the rent or pay for food.

As well as being in the red zone for evictions—low-income, single mothers are the ones feeling the brunt of a rising cost of living. However, even this picture of homeless families has more to it. Compared to other homeless groups, 68% of families living in temporary accommodation have been there for over a year. A temporary solution is becoming more and more permanent. And the problem with that? 63% say it has a negative impact on their mental health, while 51%  say their physical health is affected.

Those Without Complex Needs

Another too-common stereotype is that all people experiencing homelessness have drug or alcohol abuse problems. When SHP surveyed female rough sleepers, only 24% of them were experiencing an addiction. Problems with mental health, however, are underestimated.

Compared to the norm of around 20% of females having mental health problems—64% of homeless women reported having challenges with their mental health. But taking that statistic at face value can be misleading. Did their mental health challenges make them more vulnerable to becoming homeless? Or did their stressful state of being homeless bring on those problems?

The picture isn’t clear. But what’s certain is that the stresses, insecurities, and challenging conditions of living without a stable home do bring on mental health challenges, which themselves become like anchors to a state of homelessness.

Precisely for this reason: a huge foundation of supported housing is to help people with these complex needs.

The Big Question: How to Expand the Picture of Homelessness?

The more we can expand the picture of homelessness—the more we can support those who need support.

The critical question is: how can we broaden people’s perspective of homelessness? How can we break through these stereotypes and stigmas that people have? A big solution: getting more data, seeking more evidence, doing more never-done-before-studies.

The “Making Women Count” report by SHP was so powerful because no one had surveyed female rough sleepers before. And post their studies: now we’ve uncovered a fuller reality of homelessness.

It’s crucial not just to tally up statistics but to hear the voices of people experiencing homelessness. To interview them and get a visceral feel of their experience. Because the more we empathise with their experience, the more likely governments and organisations will act.

The Final Key to Getting a Bigger Picture of Homelessness? 

Spreading the word, telling people about it, and adding the insights we learn to conversations we have. And for you reading this now? Sharing it with your network so we can keep growing the picture of homelessness together. To account for & support all of those without the most fundamental right, every human should have a safe and secure home.

At AGS Support, we understand the complexities of homelessness. We have served the supported housing sector for over 25 years, and worked in services designed for complex needs, young people, single mothers, and families experiencing homelessness. Click Here to find out how we could help your service alleviate homelessness.

References

• Shelter UK. At least 271,000 people are homeless in England today.
• Single Homelessness Project. Making Women Count: Rough Sleeping Census Report.
• Single Homelessness Project. Making Women Count: The Full Report.