Homelessness and bad housing

This content applies to England only.

Homelessness isn’t just about rough sleepers.

Many homeless people have a roof over their heads without having a proper home, because where they live is temporary, insecure, overcrowded, unsanitary or unsafe.

Much homelessness is hidden and hard to measure, as people move from place to place or keep themselves hidden from public view. Housing insecurity and homelessness cover a wide range of situations.

Homelessness

Street homelessness

During 2006/07, Shelter services in England worked with nearly 3,900 single men, women and couples without children, who were street homeless. [1]

As well as rough sleeping, street homelessness includes:

• people who may have somewhere basic to sleep at night (such as a derelict building or squat) but who are on the streets during the day
• people sleeping outside of city centres
• people who stay in emergency hostels
• street-based sex workers who are vulnerable and homeless, but not visibly sleeping on the street.

Street homeless people are those who routinely find themselves on the street during the day with nowhere to go at night. Some will end up sleeping outside, or in a building not designed for human habitation, perhaps for long periods. Others will sleep at a friend's for a very short time, or stay in a hostel, night-shelter or squat, or spend nights in prison or hospital. Many street homeless people will alternate between sleeping in some form of accommodation and having to sleep rough.

Temporary accommodation

• At the end of December 2007, 79,500 homeless households in England were living in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities. Nearly 60,000 of these households had dependent children. [2]

Under homelessness legislation, if you have been found to be eligible, homeless and in priority need, your council has a duty to provide you with housing. This may entail a stay in temporary accommodation until a settled solution is found. If you are not found to be in priority need, your council has no legal duty to provide you with accommodation, although it must provide you with advice and assistance to find your own accommodation.

Temporary accommodation can be:

• the local authority's housing stock
• short-term housing leased from private landlords
• council or registered social landlords' hostels
• bed and breakfast hotels.

Charitable organisations also provide hostels and night shelters for single homeless people.

Due to the current shortage of social housing, many homeless people remain in temporary accommodation for several years before they’re rehoused. Those unable to access temporary housing may have to make other short-term arrangements, such as staying with relatives or friends.

Bad housing

Bad housing covers a wide range of housing situations, from overcrowding to accommodation that is unsanitary or unsafe. In all cases, having a roof to sleep under does not mean you have a home and sense of security.

Overcrowded accommodation

• In 2006/07, 554,000 households in England were overcrowded. [3]

With a lack of social housing and family-sized homes, combined with an affordability crisis in the property market, many families on low incomes are forced to live in overcrowded accommodation. Overcrowding has a detrimental effect on family relationships and health, as well as having a damaging influence on children's education and emotional development.

Non-decent homes

• 8.1 million homes in England fail to meet the Government's Decent Homes Standard. [4]

Unable to afford a decent home or access social housing, many households have no choice but to live in poor conditions, which damage their health and often pose dangerous hazards.

Neighbourhoods also affect the suitability of a home.

[1] Shelter, 2007

[2] Statutory homelessness statistics, Communities and Local Government, 2008.

[3] Survey of English Housing Preliminary Results 2006/07, Communities and Local Government 2007.

[4] English House Condition Survey 2006 Headline Report, CLG, 2007.