On World Homeless Day, let's talk about homelessness

Today is World Homeless Day.

People all over the world will today commit to ending homelessness. We'll celebrate good works, benchmark progress and call for solutions and funding that will end homelessness for good.

World Homeless Day also aims to raise awareness about the needs of people who currently experience homelessness. It promotes work in local communities to alleviate suffering and prevent deaths.

What is homelessness? Rough sleeping is the tip of the iceberg

People are rightly concerned about the high numbers of people they see sleeping rough on our streets and other public spaces. This is the most visible form of homelessness.

The number of men and women sleeping rough has risen sharply in England, having dropped significantly during the pandemic. This was because the government's 'Everyone In' emergency response required councils to offer people hotel rooms.

In autumn 2024, annual snapshot counts and estimates recorded 4,667 people sleeping rough in England on a given night. And this figure may have since risen.

It's a national scandal that in a wealthy, modern country, thousands of people are homeless on the streets. Unable to access even emergency accommodation like night shelters and hostels, let alone a settled home. They're not only at the mercy of the elements, including the recent storms, but at risk from harassment, abuse and violence.

Street homelessness is a degrading, inhumane experience which takes a huge toll on mental and physical health.

Women and People of Colour can feel extra vulnerable, because of the added risk of sexual or racist abuse or assault. So, they can be too afraid to bed down at night but instead walk the streets or sit in public places, like stations. Emergency accommodation can be unsuitable for women. Young people, too, tell us they're too afraid to bed down.

We call on the government to change the law on homelessness. Anyone at risk of being on the street should have the right to suitable emergency accommodation and adequate support.

Out of sight: children in damaging temporary accommodation

People sleeping rough are the visible tip of the iceberg. But many more people meet the legal definition of homelessness.

Hidden from view are a record 131,140 households in England homeless in damaging temporary accommodation. This number is up 12% in a year. Councils provide temporary accommodation under their legal homelessness duties.

Most of these households are families with children (63%). There are now a record 83,140 families stuck homeless in temporary accommodation, including a record 169,050 children.

The public can't usually witness their experience of homelessness or the toll it takes. It's hidden from view. Stuck for months and even years in cramped accommodation, with so little space that one in three children have to share beds. Moved from place to place at short notice, causing insecurity and disruption.

One young adult with neurodivergence who was in temporary accommodation with their family as a teenager said:

You don't have space to relax; you don't have space to recover from all the overwhelming stuff.

Temporary accommodation is often in poor condition, and sometimes has health and safety hazards, such as fire risks (1 in 5 households). Our research found that 4 in 10 households live with damp, mould or condensation. And people frequently lack the basics for family life: cooking and laundry facilities, Wi-Fi or safe play space for children. Some accommodation does not allow visitors, even to support new mothers or to help care for sick children.

In some localities, such as London, it's common for the temporary accommodation to be away from the home area. This means long commutes to work and to keep children settled in school (or alternatively multiple changes of school). It also causes isolation from the support of friends and family.

In addition to these hidden homeless households are thousands more who don't qualify for temporary accommodation. They are sofa surfing or in discretionary shelters and hostels. Or they may be living in such poor conditions that, legally, it's not reasonable for them to continue to occupy.

What causes homelessness?

The cause of record homelessness, and the wider housing emergency in England, isn't rocket science.

People experience homelessness when they can't access a suitable, settled home. The main reason for this is affordability. If they can't afford to buy, they have to rent. We've had decades of failed housing policy and underinvestment. Now, there's an acute shortage of genuinely affordable social rent homes. The sort of council homes that many people's parents and grandparents grew up in.

With huge waiting lists for a social home, families have to rent privately to avoid homelessness. But this option can also be cut off. High rents for family homes in many areas mean that over half of families (55%) who rent privately claim housing benefit (or the housing element of universal credit) to afford their rent.

But the government has frozen local housing allowance rates, so they no longer cover the bottom third of local rents (as they should). Instead, local housing allowance covers fewer than 3% of advertised rents in England. Even if families can afford private rent, they face other barriers to renting, such as the need for a guarantor.

So, what can be done?

When each set of homelessness statistics reveals further record highs, yet barely receives media coverage, it's easy to feel no one cares and that nothing can be done.

But homelessness isn’t inevitable. In fact, we have a moral obligation to change things for the next generation. Last year, 1,611 people died in the UK while experiencing homelessness, including 11 children - a 9% increase on the previous year.

Together, we can fight to address one of the biggest problems of our times. And when we work together, we can change the system.

In the past year alone, we've successfully called on the government to:

• announce a big increase in spending to deliver new social rent homes

• pass the Renters' Rights Bill, ending section 21 'no fault' evictions

• implement further protections for tenants, such as against hazards ('Awaab’s Law')

We couldn't have done this without the generosity and commitment of everyone we work alongside, including housing campaigns HEROs and corporate partners who've supported our campaigns; supporters who've donated and raised money to fuel the fight for home; economists who support our call for social housing; domestic abuse agencies; child poverty groups; renters coalitions and housing campaigners.

All these measures will tackle the housing emergency, by providing more homes and giving tenants more rights.

There's still much more to be done. The government must:

1. Set targets for how many social rent homes they will deliver. They need to remove barriers for councils to build and increase investment to deliver 90,000 social homes a year for 10 years.

2. Unfreeze local housing allowance in November's Budget. So families stuck in damaging temporary accommodation can afford a private rented home.

3. Commit to tackling racism faced by people accessing a suitable social home.

4. Introduce rights to suitable emergency accommodation and adequate support, so no one is left homeless on the streets

Together, we can make sure these things happen and create real and long-lasting change.

Join the movement for change

There are so many ways you can join the movement for change. So many events you can join, to be part of a community of like-minded people who can create real change.

Donate and fundraise

Every pound you donate helps defend the right to a safe home for everyone.

Why not sign up for our winter Walk for Home? You'll get a special rate if you sign up today (Friday 10 October).

Support our national campaigns

For example, the speedy and strong implementation of renters' rights. Start by signing letters and sharing them on social media.

Join a local campaign

Be part of a local movement aimed at changing things in your area.

If you live in Liverpool, fight for more social homes by the docks. Sign our open letter to Liverpool decision makers.

Based in Brum? Come to the Birmingham Fight For Home Festival on 11 October.

Bristolian? Demand better renting in Bristol.

We believe that home is a human right. Will you join us?