Latest figures reveal that homelessness and rough sleeping are on the rise with a 51% increase in the number of people living on the streets during the last two years. What needs to be done to reverse this trend and ensure that everyone has a safe place to stay?
There is a plethora of reasons why a person of family may find themselves homeless. Currently, losing a private tenancy is cited as the most common reason, however, welfare reforms, relationship breakdown, health issues, poverty and housing shortages are also some of the many factors that can render a person homeless.
Half of all people that are seeking help with homelessness from local authorities and charities are under the age of 25. Similarly, over half of people living in homeless services are young people in the same age bracket. Young people traditionally have additional challenges to overcome with issues such as education, training and skills, substance misuse and mental illness. The regulations recently laid out by the government preventing 18 to 21 year olds from claiming the housing element of Universal Credit are feared may heighten the risks to young people of becoming homeless or sofa surfing.
Big Issue North has always provided people at the bottom of society with opportunities to earn an income. This session will give the audience an insight into the changing demography of our vendor, and the complexity of meeting housing needs for poor people in the UK today.
Amanda Croome, CEO, Booth Centre (confirmed)
Jo Wilson, Volunteer, Booth Centre (confirmed)
This presentation will share the experience of The Manchester Homeless Charter and Partnership which is working to re-design homeless services in Manchester bringing together statutory services, voluntary and faith based organisations, businesses, the Universities and most importantly people with experience of homelessness.
The availability of suitable, affordable accommodation is key in preventing and alleviating homelessness. With social housing evictions running at 17,500 a year, allocations to homeless households down and slump in new supply, government is looking to the private rental sector to tackle homelessness. Over the last 20 years, this sector has seen considerable expansion but has become more difficult for low-income households to access. Many families cannot afford a privately rented home, or encounter landlords unwilling to let to benefit claimants. Growing numbers are trapped for years in insecure temporary accommodation, while many low-income renters have no choice but to accept unsuitable homes, poor conditions and bad landlords. What needs to change?
The number of people who state that the end of their private rented sector tenancy was followed by an episode of homeless has increased in recent years. Rupps (2008), undertaking research at the height of the financial crisis and using data from the homeless charity Shelter, estimates that fifteen per cent of tenancy terminations were followed by an episode of homelessness. Drawing on local authority data on statutory homelessness presentations, the Department of Communities and Local Government believes that over thirty percent of terminations are now followed by an episode of homelessness (DCLG, 2016). Are these accurate and comparable estimates of the levels of homelessness in former private rented sector tenants? What might explain this increase? What factors might be material? Do (a) differences in the types of accommodation accessed; (b) whether the tenancy was the outcome of referral by a local authority; (c) types of landlords and whether the tenant had previous experience of homelessness, matter? What might we learn from data and evidence around the risks, causes and trigger events for homelessness more generally, and how homelessness can be prevented or its duration and impact reduced? I will present findings from a piece of mixed methods research commissioned by the Residential Landlords’ Association to understand the underlying causes of homelessness in the private rented sector. The research draws on interviews with key stakeholders, a survey of landlords, secondary data analysis and work with homeless former private rented sector tenants.
Ivan Lewis MP and Councillor Beth Knowles, Joint leads in Homelessness for Greater Manchester Mayor (confirmed)
Data from the government shows that the number of children in B&Bs and hostels across the Manchester city region has more than doubled in two years, to 1,600. Andy Burnham has pledged to eradicate homelessness in Greater Manchester by the end of his first term as metro mayor.
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) has an aim to improve the quality of healthcare for people experiencing homelessness. As such, it manages a national homeless health programme which researches homeless and inclusion health issues, shares relevant news and supports the development of good practice through innovation funding and learning events.
Find out how Streetwise Opera uses music to help people who have experienced homelessness make positive changes in their lives. The award-winning charity runs workshop programmes across England, stages critically-acclaimed operas and manages With One Voice, an international arts and homelessness movement. Streetwise Opera’s work shows that the arts play a vital role in improving wellbeing and increasing social inclusion – key issues in tackling homelessness.
Housing First Anglesey provides residential support to homeless people with complex needs. It is currently the only project of its type in Wales.
Housing First differs from the traditional method of housing homeless people as it takes people with complex needs and places them straight into their own rented accommodation. A 24-hour intensive support package is provided to ensure that all the individual’s needs are met and they can then begin to address the underlying issues that caused their homelessness.
This report evidences the link between homelessness and modern day slavery. It found that people living on the streets in the UK are at risk of becoming victims of modern slavery. Those that are homeless are vulnerable to the approaches of rogue employers offering work and accommodation whilst the reality is one of exploitation in appalling circumstances. An estimated 10-13,000 people in the UK fall victim to such exploitation, often rendering them destitute and homeless.
Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFawLSYY9Qc Emergency Services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oh6LgyLFxI Local Government
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxF4ByHXlsU NHS
If you think someone is in immediate danger, please call the police on 999. In order to protect the potential victim, do not attempt to inform them of your actions.
If you think someone is a potential victim but there is no immediate threat to life, please call the local police on 101.
To refer a potential victim of modern slavery confidentially call the Salvation Army Referral Helpline 0300 3038151 available 24/7
Alternatively, you can call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.
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