Homelessness is a divisive issue in the UK. While there is undeniably a lot of compassion for people unfortunate enough to be homeless, there are also people with feelings of animosity and negativity towards them. Many people couldn’t care less about homelessness, and while changing that is a big barrier to combating the crisis, broadening perspectives and increasing critical understanding of homelessness is essential to changing minds.
There are people who approach the issue with compassion. That doesn't necessarily mean they give money or food to every person they see on the streets, it can simply mean they do not look at homeless people as criminals or loiters. There are also groups of people who see rough sleepers in exactly this manner, treating them like faeces on their flip flops.
Whatever camp people fall into, common misconceptions regarding homelessness contribute to public attitudes. There are misguided observations regarding what it means to be homeless and what causes people to end up in this calamitous situation. This blog will dive into some of these and explain their lack of basis.
One of the most commonly misunderstood aspects of homelessness surrounds its definition. There are numerous conditions and experiences which constitute being homeless and therefore, agreeing on one sole definition has proved difficult for many organisations in the sector. It does not exclusively mean sleeping rough outside of train stations or on park benches. Rough sleeping is the most prevalent and visible form of homelessness, but not the only one.
Many people experience hidden homelessness in the form of sleeping on couches, bedroom floors, in cars or in shelters. While the mental picture might not necessarily align, these people are experiencing forms of homelessness whether it would be immediately obvious or not. People do not have to beg for money with weeping dogs to be homeless. With no fixed abode and no chance of getting one without support, many of the hidden homeless fly under the radar, often to their own detriment. It is important that people understand what it means to be homeless if they are to speak on the issue with any clarity.
The definition is not the only common misconception. A key source of disdain for homeless people comes from a place of blame. For many, it seems inconceivable that somebody could end up homeless through no fault of their own, however this is the truth. When the Cabinet Minister tasked with tackling this problem is accused of making people homeless as a private landlord and subsequently resigns as a result, it sheds light on how powerless and helpless many people really are.
At FPH, counsellors and support workers engage with homeless people every day. The majority want to work for a wage and have a steeled place of residence. Using blanket terms like “everybody” and “nobody” would not be a fair reflection because some people simply do not want to be helped, but most do.
When people are blamed for being homeless, pertinent issues like discrimination, health concerns, low wages, high rents, addiction and recovery are often ignored. The Renters Rights Bill is slated to enter the statute book next year, however until this legislation passes, renters on the market are still at the mercy of powerful landlords. Moreover, the cost of renting, particularly in cities and surrounding towns, is extortionate. The national minimum wage may have increased, but many people earning the absolute legal baseline wage cannot afford to live in many areas throughout the country.
This also doesn't even account for people working with disabilities who regularly have to attend appointments and therefore cannot take on full time roles. All of these factors cause people to be homeless. All of these external factors cannot be controlled by individuals. They cannot be helped and they ultimately cause people to be homeless against their will.
Many people also believe that homelessness occurs as a result of substance misuse. This is not to say this doesn't happen, it clearly does, but asserting that it makes up the majority of cases is false. There are so many reasons, including the ones already referred to, that leave people without a permanent roof over their heads.
Incompassionate politicians have enabled this narrative to gain traction when it is based on no factual evidence whatsoever. In 2023, Suella Bravermann was the Home Secretary and felt she needed to distinguish people from being “genuinely homeless” from those who apparently were not.
Bravermann elaborated on the meaning, saying: “What I want to stop, and what the law abiding majority wants us to stop, is those who cause nuisance and distress to other people by pitching tents in public spaces, aggressively begging, stealing, taking drugs, littering, and blighting our communities.”
Although none of this made anybody any wiser regarding what separates the “genuinely homeless” from others, she made sure to mention people taking drugs as a way to stir up support. What she failed to recognise was the fact that homelessness is not a lifestyle choice. There will of course be people who take drugs as a result of homelessness. Sleeping on freezing cold streets in December will have encouraged even the strongest minds to turn to methods like this to combat this terrible situation. But the drugs are a consequence as much as they are a cause. This was conveniently left out by the former Tory minister.
Even with the animosity, misunderstanding of definitions and misplaced blame, there are still countless amounts of people who approach rough sleepers and the issue itself with empathy and compassion. Hopefully, with more government commitment to affordable social housing and a proactive approach, the soaring levels of homelessness drop over the coming years. This is a necessity for the UK, as some people are one paycheck away from being homeless, the only difference is whether they are unlucky enough to find out first hand.