Categories of Homeless People in the UK - Case Study Example

The Homeless in UK Homelessness is a problem that affects diverse groups of people in the UK although those in the urban areas are hardest hit with its consequence presenting destructive and isolating experience for the people involved making it necessary for proper intervention mechanisms to be device in order to prevent the social exclusion and vulnerability faced by those involved. There are a number of ways that can be used to identify the homeless within the society; however, this essay adopts the definition of homelessness provided by Fitzpatrick, Pawson, Bramley, Wilcox and Watts (2012). Fitzpatrick et al (2012) identifies a number of characteristics that can lead to the inclusion of an individual or a group of people into the category of homelessness. Consequently, the definition results into the identification of four broad categories of homeless people in UK the first one being those sleeping rough. Secondly, those who are single and are housed in temporary supported accommodation, hostels and shelters. Homelessness also includes the category of people looking for housing support from their local authorities on the basis of lacking accommodation or being on the verge of losing one with both families with or without children and single people being supported under this scheme. Lastly, this category includes hidden homeless households which cover a group of people who have not been taken care of by any other scheme for the homeless since they are not identified under existing statistics or in the streets. Fitzpatrick et al (2012) note this category might include but not limited to squatters, people living in highly overcrowded environment, those housed by friends and relatives on a long term basis and those sleeping rough but in areas that are hidden. There are a number of factors that have led to continued existence of homeless people in the UK the greatest contributor being the existing housing problem. The UK has been hit by a serious shortage of affordable housing rendering millions of residents homeless in Britain and in particular social housing. Weinhardt (2010) points out that the current housing situation in England shows 9 million social renters living in 4 million social dwellings indicating the dire lack of space for the households occupying these spaces. The author notes that this situation can only change if a number of tenants move out or die with historical data indicating about 80 percent of the households or individuals have occupied their spaces from as far back as 19998. The consequence of these ongoing situations is that there are over 1.8 million households on the waiting list for social housing with Weinhardt (2010) claiming it will take over 22 years for these households to get houses given the current rates of space being freed up. Single people are most hit by the lack of social housing as the rationing system employed in the allocation of housing has resulted in cancellation of some households. Fitzpatrick et al (2012) notes the number of cancellations for single people in England in 2012 alone stood at 1.54 million households in addition to a further, 214,000 cancelations for couples and lone parents. Owner might look as the best option for most single people but this has often been impossible due to their low income as they cannot afford to pay for all the housing requirements. Due to the existing housing shortage especially for the singles, the private rented sector is sometimes perceived as the best housing option that would help them avoid homelessness. However, finding suitable housing for those looking for long-term and affordable properties is still a challenge. Poverty has also been a barrier to many people attempting to get long-term housing facilities as households have inadequate monetary resources making them more vulnerable to homelessness. According to Cochran (2010), about 13.5 million people living in poverty by the year 2008. Poverty can lead to homelessness when one fails to get affordable housing while also acting as a hindrance to homeless people trying to get houses. There are many people who are unable to access a home due to factors such as debts or being trapped by the benefit system. Having debts mean that people cannot achieve their dream of having affordable housing as most of their income goes towards servicing the debt. Income poverty is also a factor in social exclusion of people which in most cases results into homelessness due to lack of options when searching for housing (Quilgars, Johnsen and Pleace, 2008). Those who lack skills necessary to get employment that can sustain their housing needs have also been found to fall into homelessness. Many of the homeless people in UK are those who lack suitable skills for the labour market therefore being locked out of possible employment opportunities. Being homeless also affects a person’s ability to get a job as the experience of homelessness itself deskills and isolates these individuals therefore damaging their self-esteem, confidence, and social connections. The consequence of such experience can be overwhelming to the homeless individual who might resort to a life of drug abuse, alcoholism and engagement in other addictive behaviour (McDonagh, 2011). Additions results in a situation where a person can no longer take control of their lives through personal initiatives aimed at making the situation through developing skills or refreshing the mind in readiness for potential job opening. Those leaving particular institutions might also find themselves homeless as they struggle to find their balance in the world outside the institution that had hosted them for a considerable amount of time. This can include those leaving prison, hospital, and psychiatric placements when they are determined as fit both physically and psychologically. Young people leaving care are also included in this group as they transition either from home or educational institutions that had housed them (Wilson, 2013). The existing state of homelessness in UK calls for policies that will address the needs of the residents. This is because a number of researchers have identified a number of consequences that those who are homeless have to deal with. Among the consequences include mental health and physical problems for the involved individuals or households. This is because many of the homeless people are forced to sleep in overcrowded accommodation therefore being predisposed to violence and health risks such as bronchitis, cancer, trench foot, pneumonia, diseases of cardiovascular and respiratory (Bethan, 2012) 2012; Homeless Link 2010). Rees (2009) assert homelessness has a psychological effect with people involved having a nine times higher risk of committing suicide than the general public. The average age of death for homeless people have also been found to be lower than for the general population with Bethan (2012) claiming homeless have a higher risk of dying young based on statistics showing the average age of death for the homeless is pegged at 47 years old with that of homeless women being 43 years old against 77 years old for the general population. There have been extensive efforts to reduce homelessness in UK through such measures as increasing funding to homelessness services, and local government having proactive strategies such as rapid response to reports about sleeping rough with the aim of preventing homelessness (Wilson, 2013). There are however other measures that can improve the current situation. These measures should start by ensuring that the number of cancellations for tenancy is reduced especially based on the assessment of the tenant’s vulnerability to homelessness. Local authority should cancel existing tenancy based on the ability of an individual or household to get alternative accommodation so that those who might not be in a position to find new houses are maintained presented with another accommodation option. Additionally, there should be further investment into the housing sector through collaborations between governmental departments, social housing sector, privately owned sector and private rented sector. Given that a substantial number of the homeless are single people solutions to the problem must explore how this group can access affordable housing. The current law in UK does not prioritize housing for a single homeless person. Even when they are not given a priority in getting council housing, single homeless persons can benefit from advice and directions on how to get accommodation based on their financial capabilities. The law can be changed to ensure the homeless people receive more assistance when looking public housing by for instance being provided with written assistance on the way forward when their application has not been successful. This will prepare them for available alternatives since some of the single homeless persons might be lacking information about other criteria for accessing accommodation (Reeve and Batty, 2011). Existing research has shown the connection between homelessness and both mental and physical health which implies measures to increase access to accommodation should also be accompanied by health services (Homeless Link, 2010). To ensure homeless people are in a proper frame of mind to handle their responsibilities where it is looking for employment or affordable accommodation, primary health services has to offer flexible care that responds to the needs of homeless people. This could also include the emergency and accident departments having a policy regarding response to attacks on homeless persons in streets. While taking care of homeless persons with mental health problems, providers of secondary health should also be charged with providing appropriate care that can include linking the homeless with homelessness services. Additionally, patients from secondary health providers should be discharged after a secure accommodation has been determined to reduce chances recidivism back into homelessness (Bethan 2012). References Bethan T., 2012. Homelessness kills: An analysis of the mortality of homeless people in early twenty-first century England. London: Crisis Cochran, C. Something for nothing: Changing negative attitudes to people living in poverty. Oxford: Oxfam. Fitzpatrick, S., Pawson, H., Bramley, G., Wilcox, S., & Watts, B., 2012. The homelessness monitor: England 2012. London: Crisis. Homeless Link, 2010. The health and wellbeing of people who are homeless: evidence from a national audit. London: Homeless Link. McDonagh, T., 2011. Tackling homelessness and exclusion: understanding complex lives. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Quilgars, D., Johnsen, S., & Pleace, N., 2008. Youth homelessness in the UK. York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Rees, S., 2009. Mental ill health in the adult single homeless population. London: Crisis Reeve, K., & Batty, E., 2011. The Hidden Truth about Homelessnesss: Experiences of Single Homelessness in England. London: Crisis. Weinhardt, F., 2010. Moving into the projects: Social housing neighbourhoods and school performance in England. London :Spatial Economics Research Centre (SERC). Wilson, W., 2013. Homelessness in England. House of Commons Library. Read More