What does homelessness look like
When we think of homeless people, we often picture rough sleepers. On the street, possibly with a tent. Whilst sleeping rough is the most visible and dangerous form of homelessness, society needs to understand that these are not the only people who are homeless. With homelessness on the rise across the West Midlands and an increasing number of families in Telford and Wrekin saying they are homeless, we need a clear view of who is homeless, so that families can access the help they need. Let’s jump into the types of homelessness someone might experience and how that affects the aid services they can access in Telford and Wrekin area.
Rough Sleeping
As mentioned before, sleeping rough is the most visible and riskiest form of homelessness. People may sleep in doorways, park benches or tents. Rough sleepers are exposed to harsh environmental conditions and are at a high risk of violence, trauma and addiction. A recent study found that the average age of death for street homeless men was 45 and for women it was 41.
Statutory Homelessness
Statutory homelessness refers to people who have been recognised by their local council as legally homeless. Gov.uk states you may be legally homeless if:
- you’ve no legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world
- you cannot get into your home, for example your landlord has locked you out
- it’s not reasonable to stay in your home, for example you’re at risk of violence or abuse
- you’re forced to live apart from your family or people you normally live with because there’s no suitable accommodation for you
- you’re living in very poor conditions such as overcrowding
If you are legally homeless or will be in 8 weeks or less, Telford and Wrekin Council have a statutory duty to help you.
Hidden Homelessness
Many homeless people are not captured in statistics or homelessness services, as they are dealing with their homelessness informally. This may be sofa surfing or living in unsuitable accommodation like squats or sheds. These people are still incredibly vulnerable and will often have to spend nights sleeping rough. As they do not fully meet the criteria for help from the local authority, hidden homeless people may need to seek support from charitable organisations.
Temporary Accommodation
The demand for social housing in the Telford and Wrekin area is increasing. Temporary accommodation is provided by local councils to individuals and families who are recognised as homeless but have not yet been placed in permanent housing. This accommodation can range from hostels and bed-and-breakfasts to council-run flats. While temporary accommodation provides a roof over someone’s head, it is often far from ideal.
Many people in temporary housing face overcrowding, inadequate facilities, and uncertainty about how long they will be there. Furthermore, families are sometimes placed far from their support networks, schools, and workplaces, exacerbating the stress of their situation.
In 2023, more than 180 households were recorded as homeless in Telford – up from the previous year. This is 180 households that we know need help. However, as this blog explained, there are a great many more hidden homeless people out there which have not been recorded and are not accessing homelessness services. These people deserve aid as much those who are more visibly homeless. Hopefully, by understanding the different types of homelessness, more people can be identified and helped, moving us closer to preventing homelessness across the borough of Telford and Wrekin.
