Understanding homelessness
Homelessness is often seen as someone sleeping rough on the streets. But in reality, much of it is hidden.
Across England, thousands of people stay in hostels, sofa-surf with friends or family, or stay in temporary accommodation because they have nowhere else to go.
Many individuals experiencing hidden homelessness don’t approach local authorities for help. This can be due to embarrassment, lack of awareness of the help available, or fear of involvement with official systems. An estimated 62% of single homeless people do not show up on official figures (Crisis).
Homelessness can be traumatic, unsafe and extremely lonely. People who experience it often die far younger than the general population: at around 45 for men and 43 for women.
How many people are homeless in England?
The latest figures show that in England, 324,990 families and individuals were accepted as being ‘owed support’ by their local council because they were ‘likely to become homeless or were homeless’ (2023/24). (More details about the support offered below).
In England, homelessness rates vary significantly by region. London has the highest percentage of people experiencing homelessness, with 24.8% of the total homeless population, despite accounting for only 14.8% of the overall population. The North West has the second-highest percentage at 13.3%, slightly above its population share of 12.4%.
Government figures released at the end of 2024 indicate that 67.2% of ‘lead applicants’ (people making homeless applications on behalf of households) were white, 10.2% were black, and 6.4% were Asian. (The estimated overall population is 81.7%, 4% and 9.3% respectively.)
The main causes of homelessness in England
Homelessness doesn’t have a single cause, it’s usually the result of several things building up. The most common include:
Leaving institutions – People leaving care, the armed forces or prison can have fewer housing options and support networks.
Lack of affordable housing – A chronic shortage of social housing and rising private rents leave many people with few options.
Relationship breakdown – Family conflict, domestic abuse, and the breakdown of partnerships are major triggers.
Financial hardship – Job loss, low wages, or benefit delays can quickly lead to rent arrears and eviction.
Health challenges – Mental health, addiction, and long-term illness can make it harder to maintain a tenancy.
No fault evictions
Of the 324,990 homelessness cases, Section 21 or ‘no-fault’ evictions are estimated to account for around 8%.
At such short notice, households must quickly find a new place to live. Often at a higher rent than they currently pay, and come up with the money for a deposit, first month’s rent, and moving costs. For many, these financial pressures make it impossible to secure a new home in time, putting them at serious risk of homelessness.
Shelter has highlighted that over 26,000 households were evicted under Section 21 since the government first pledged to abolish it in 2019.
The UK government is banning this practice via the Renters’ Rights Act, expected in May 2026, to increase rental security. After this, landlords must provide valid reasons and use Section 8 to evict.
What happens when someone becomes homeless?
In the first instance, people at risk of homelessness should contact their local council for advice. What happens next depends on a number of factors. The Shelter website gives up-to-date information on this.
In England, local councils must help anyone who is legally homeless or at risk of becoming homeless within the next eight weeks. This support can include housing advice, emergency accommodation, help to find longer-term housing, or assistance to remain in their current home.
People who are settled residents in the UK are usually eligible for the homelessness support detailed above. Those from overseas may not qualify for the same help, depending on their immigration status.
Some groups receive priority support, such as young people and pregnant people, meaning they may be rehoused more quickly.
What is emergency accommodation?
Emergency accommodation (also known as interim accommodation) is meant to be a short-term solution while the council investigates a household’s situation and decides what longer-term help can be offered.
Emergency accommodation is primarily used as a stopgap and therefore usually precedes a temporary accommodation placement.
What is temporary accommodation?
Temporary accommodation includes a variety of living situations, such as:
Hostels or supported housing schemes – Often managed by housing associations or charities, these provide a room or ‘flat’, and support from key workers. Because of the chronic shortage of social and affordable housing, people can spend years in supported accommodation – ready to move on, but with nowhere to go.
Local authority temporary flats or houses – Council owned or leased properties used to house families or individuals who are homeless.
Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) – Properties with rooms for individuals, which usually have shared bathrooms and kitchens.
Hotel and B&Bs – Fill a gap when there is not enough suitable housing available for people who are homeless. While these options provide a roof in an emergency, they are often expensive for local authorities and unsuitable for long-term living – especially for children and families.
People placed in temporary accommodation often have few to no tenancy rights, they can be moved at short notice to another accommodation and can even be placed out-of-area.
And it is currently unregulated: reports show that thousands of people are living in properties that are unsafe and unsuitable for habitation.
Temporary accommodation can also include ‘sofa surfing’ – staying with friends or relatives because there is nowhere else to go.
Is a person in temporary accommodation still homeless?
Even though people may not be sleeping on the streets, they are still considered homeless if they have no permanent home. A situation often referred to as ‘hidden homelessness’.
How many people are in temporary accommodation in England?
By the end of 2024, a record 326,000 households were living in temporary accommodation – a 17% increase in just one year. This figure includes around 165,000 children.
The cycle of homelessness
Homelessness is not always a one-off event. For many people it becomes a repeating cycle that is extremely difficult to escape.
Losing a place
Temporary accommodation usually comes with rules and charges. People can lose their place if they fall behind on rent or service charges, or if they break conditions such as not bringing in guests or abstaining from drugs or alcohol. When this happens, they may end up rough sleeping before eventually being offered a place in a scheme again – restarting the cycle.
Other factors that keep people trapped
Several other issues commonly fuel this cycle:
- Spending time in prison, and leaving with nowhere to go
- Mental health challenges, such as PTSD
- Poor physical health or disability
- Historic debt, such as rent arrears, which can block future housing options
- Addictions
Why don’t homeless people just ‘get a job’?
In supported accommodation, rent is generally paid directly from the housing element of Universal Credit. If someone chooses to work more than 16 hours per week, this benefit stops altogether.
That means:
- They lose the financial help with rent
- They must pay the full cost of supported accommodation themselves – which is higher than standard rent because it includes support costs
- If they choose to move out, they must find the money to move, including a deposit, advance rent and furnishings
As a result, many people feel forced to stay on benefits and limit work to fewer than 16 hours a week (or unpaid volunteering), even when they want to work, progress, and contribute to society.
Health issues, gaps in work history or lack of childcare, ID, or qualifications can also stand in the way of obtaining employment.
People who sleep rough face a multitude of barriers when looking for work. Without a fixed address, bank account, appropriate clothing or sometimes even a way to be contacted, stable employment seems impossible to achieve.
Nowhere to move on to
Some groups, such as single adults, especially men, are often placed very low on social housing waiting lists. With few alternatives, they remain stuck in homeless accommodation for many years.
For young people this is even more precarious, as most supported youth housing ends at age 21 or 25. When they age out, they can be pushed into rough sleeping or adult homeless hostels if space is available.
There are currently around 1.33 million households on social housing waiting lists in England. These lists have been growing for decades due to the chronic shortage of genuinely affordable homes.
Social rent is considered the only truly affordable form of housing, as rents are linked to local incomes. Shelter has found that social rents are, on average, 69% more affordable than private rents.
Because demand far outstrips supply, many people face extremely long waits for a home. In some parts of London, waiting lists stretch beyond 100 years. Across 32 local authorities in England, the wait for a social home is now longer than an entire childhood, with some households waiting over 18 years.
Breaking the cycle
To break this cycle of homelessness, people need more than just a place to stay – they need:
- Practical financial support to overcome barriers such as debt and moving costs
- Emotional and therapeutic support to rebuild resilience
- Opportunities that allow them to progress without losing their safety net
Grants from Church Homeless Charity are a lifeline at these critical moments, helping people take steps forward, rather than round and round the system.
Who is affected by homelessness?
Homelessness in England affects people from all walks of life, but certain groups are more at risk:
- Young people leaving care
- People escaping domestic abuse
- Veterans adjusting to civilian life
- People with disabilities or long-term health conditions
- Migrants and refugees facing legal and language barriers, or discrimination
What homeless people are entitled to
Homeless people can claim Universal Credit. For those in a hostel or supported accommodation, Universal Credit can include the housing support aspect of UC, which can cover rent.
However, to apply for Universal Credit, you’ll usually need; a bank, building society or credit union account, internet access, an email address, your National Insurance number, and proof of identity. Claimants are also required to show proof of job searches if they are out of work.
For many, especially people who have been sleeping rough, these are difficult barriers to overcome.
People who have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) are unable to apply for benefits. Migrants in the UK on visas, without stelled status or seeking asylum, usually fall into this category.
People with NRPF can be at high risk of exploitation or destitution. Support from charities, host homes and community networks often become their only lifeline.
Rough sleeping
Rough sleeping is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness. It means having no safe place to stay and sleeping outside; in doorways, bus stations, stairwells, tents or other public places. The autumn 2024 snapshot found 4,667 people sleeping rough on a single night in England.
People end up rough sleeping for many reasons, including relationship breakdown (the leading cause), leaving prison with nowhere to go, escaping violence at home, losing work, or being evicted from temporary accommodation.
The dangers and barriers rough sleepers face
Life on the streets is extremely unsafe and damaging to both physical and mental health. Rough sleepers are exposed to the elements, violence, theft and abuse, and they often struggle with lack of sleep, hunger, untreated medical problems or worsening mental health conditions.
Finding work or accessing support becomes very difficult without an address, ID, bank account, or phone. And without these, many services cannot engage.
Some rough sleepers are not entitled to public funds because of their immigration status, which blocks access to housing or benefits altogether.
Getting off the streets usually requires specialist support, access to safe accommodation, and ongoing help to break the longer cycle of homelessness.
Why prevention is vital
Preventing homelessness is just as important as supporting people once it happens. The current Labour government pledged to ‘break the cycle’ of the homelessness crisis by shifting investment towards prevention. Key government strategies include increasing social housing, providing support for private renters, and expanding access to mental health services.
Many have pointed out a lack of consistency in government regarding the position of Minister of State for Homelessness, a role which changes hands often (seven times in seven years).
Stopping people from becoming homeless in the first place is important. Once someone falls into homelessness – even briefly – it becomes much harder to escape.
Rough sleeping, time spent in temporary accommodation, loss of employment, debt, mental health problems, and trauma can all make it incredibly difficult for someone to get back into stable housing. The longer this continues, the deeper the cycle becomes.
The role of charities in preventing homelessness
The reality is that much of the day-to-day work of preventing homelessness falls to charities. Rising housing costs, overstretched council budgets and strict eligibility rules mean that many people either cannot access help – or only receive it once they are already in crisis.
Charities step in to bridge these gaps. They offer emergency grants, help people pay off rent arrears, replace vital documents, and support moves into safe accommodation.
Frontline organisations also provide advice, food, clothing and access to mental health and addiction services, acting quickly in situations where statutory systems are too slow or too limited.
Resettling after homelessness
We provide resettlement grants for people leaving hostels and supported accommodation for somewhere more permanent. The money for deposits, energy bills, food shops, white goods, carpeting etc. can make the difference between someone keeping their home or losing it.
Supporting someone into a home with electricity, privacy, washing facilities, no debt hanging over them, and the basic items they need helps them take pride in their surroundings, keep it clean, and stay within their tenancy terms.
It can give them a reason to stay indoors and off the streets, and the security needed to look for work instead of slipping back into destructive habits. With a stable home, they can invite friends and family to visit, or reconnect with children, and begin to feel part of society again.
How our support makes a difference
We fund the essentials that statutory services can’t always provide. The things that help people move forward. From new clothes and a mobile phone, to training courses that open up job opportunities, every grant we give helps break down the barriers that keep people trapped.
How you can change the story
Understanding homelessness is the first step. By supporting charities like ours, you can help extend our reach, fund more schemes, and create lasting change for thousands of people across England. Together, we can move beyond the myths, break the cycle, and give more people the chance to build a stable, secure future.
