Homeless Crisis
Nationwide Homeless Crisis
In this country, there is a lack of social housing and with the increase of living costs but a freeze on wages and benefits, it has been reported that by 2020 millions of UK families will be under the threat of homelessness, if not already. Currently, many families and individuals have found themselves in a situation where, even though they are in receipt of housing benefits, they are struggling to make their rent payments along with living costs. The use of food banks and relief from other charitable sectors is on the rise as the face of poverty in the UK becomes an ever present reality.
Almost two thirds of the local councils in Britain are finding it increasingly difficult to find housing for individuals and families who have already succumbed to homelessness due to a number of factors. One of the most common reasons is that the average private landlord does not accept housing benefit tenants. Along with this, certain demographics within the homeless sector find difficulty in being re-housed. For example, 85% of councils struggle to house single people from the ages of 25-34 and 94% express extreme concern in housing these individuals in the coming years.
It is known that the loss of a private tenancy is the cause of 31% of the homeless in the United Kingdom however there are many other faces of homelessness. For example, there is an upward trend in rough sleepers with the official national total up by 132% since 2010 and with a 51% rise in the last two years. Then there are the hidden homeless, the sofa surfers and those who live with others as they do not have the funds to live independently. In 2016, there were an estimated 2.27 million households that concealed homeless individuals in the UK along with 288,000 concealed couples and single parents - these figures being a rise of one third since 2008.
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Homelessness in Leeds and Durham
In January 2017, the government announced that they would be providing funding to housing providers so as to supply 40,000 affordable homes by 2021. With the sheer scale of homelessness in the UK, 40,000 affordable homes in 4 years time seems a mere drop in the ocean and it is inevitable that there will not be enough to go round. Along with the UK’s austerity programme, this fiscal policy continues to have negative repercussions and more so for the deprived Northern urban local authorities.
Whether it is the lack of essential public services such as education and the NHS or the cut in police funding more than not, it is the Northern part of England that suffers. For example, cuts in the police force have resulted in what some deem to be an increase in violent crime. The Durham Constabulary has reported a 28% increase in crime between April 2016 and March 2017 in comparison to the same months in 2015/16. Although crime does not necessarily lead to homelessness, in some sectors of the homeless community, illegal activity can be intrinsically linked. The reality is, that when poverty comes knocking at one’s door and when one has no home to go to, people can become involved in criminal activities in the hope that this will help them to get by.
In Conclusion, social housing inclusive of new builds and lettings are at historically low levels and the picture is dire for the homeless and those who are under threat of homelessness. The ‘affordable’ rental properties that are available are unfortunately over priced for those on the lowest incomes and consequently, there is a real shortage of feasible and genuine options for low income households and individuals. The benefit cuts already introduced and projected for the coming years will reduce the income for poorer households to the tune of 25 billion a year by 2020/21. Such problematic times predict an even bleaker future for the homeless of the UK. Where exactly are they meant to go to find housing? Bluntly put - where are they going to live? Homelessness is an age old problem and Angel Propz can by no means eradicate this issue but we can help to alleviate homelessness one step and one property at a time. The government and local councils need support as they are already over stretched and it is the philanthropists of this world and high net individuals who can help to make that difference.
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