Causes of homelessness, risk factors and impacts
7.1. Risk factors
According to Public Health England many personal risk factors related to childhood experiences including being part of a homeless family as a child, missing school, running away from home or residential care, and moving house frequently means a person is more likely to experience homelessness.
Researchers from Heriot Watt University challenge the notion that “we are all two pay cheques away from homelessness” and that homelessness is not randomly distributed across the population Homelessness in the UK: Who is most at risk? — Heriot-Watt Research Portal (hw.ac.uk) It suggests that individual, social, and structural risks are largely predictable and that, although individual causes are important in many cases, the main risks are structural. Homelessness risk factors highlighted include:
- The centrality of poverty particularly childhood poverty.
- The impact of local labour and housing market conditions.
- The absence of social support networks, particularly family.
There are many different reasons why people become homeless in the UK, and these include a range of social, economic, and personal factors. According to the charity Crisis, Homelessness: Causes, Types and Facts | Crisis UK some of the main causes of homelessness include losing a job, relationship breakdown, and health issues such as addiction or mental illness. However, the most frequent reason is being unable to pay for housing, rent, groceries, and bills.
The cost-of-living crisis has made it increasingly difficult for low-income households to keep up with their expenses, and this can contribute to homelessness. Many people simply cannot afford to pay their rent or mortgage and are forced to rely on temporary accommodation or the support of friends and family. In addition, the severe lack of affordable homes in many areas of the UK means that households are often stuck in temporary housing or forced to move around frequently, which can exacerbate their situation.
The impact of the cost-of-living crisis is particularly severe for vulnerable populations, including those with physical or mental health issues, immigrants, and the elderly. For example, those with mental health problems may struggle to keep a job or maintain stable relationships, which can lead to homelessness. Immigrants may face language barriers, discrimination, and a lack of support systems, which can make it difficult for them to access housing and other services. The elderly may have limited income and resources and may be more vulnerable to health problems and other challenges that can contribute to homelessness.
It is clear that the causes of homelessness are multifaceted and complex and require a comprehensive approach that addresses both the root causes and the immediate needs of those affected.
7.2. The impact of homelessness
The negative impact of homelessness on health and well-being is well established, although national evidence is mostly focused on those experiencing chronic homelessness (rough sleepers and those living in hostels). Poor health and well-being outcomes for those experiencing chronic homelessness are exacerbated by disadvantages in accessing the healthcare system. Providing healthcare for the chronically homeless population is far more costly than the general population due to much higher levels of use of acute services (A&E) and lower use of primary services.
According to the British journal of general practise in an article published in October 2023 entitled “Inclusion health and missingness in health care”: People who are homeless, rough sleeping or living in insecure housing typically experience multiple risk factors for poor health (such as poverty, violence, and complex trauma). They experience stigma and discrimination and are not consistently accounted for in records such as healthcare databases – variation in name spellings being one such reason, as does frequent changes or absences of an address. Inclusion health and missingness in health care: dig where you stand (bjgp.org) These experiences and factors frequently lead to barriers in access to healthcare and result in extremely poor health outcomes. Without appropriate access to primary and community care, and early / preventative interventions, people in inclusion health groups are likely to turn to acute services: For instance, A&E attendance is 6-8 times higher for people experiencing homelessness and 28 times higher for people who experience both homelessness (rough sleeping) and alcohol dependency.
National research on the negative impacts of homelessness on children is more rounded and extensive and includes children living in Temporary Accommodation. Living in Temporary Accommodation affects the emotional well-being and development of children as well as their physical and mental health and education. The negative impacts increase with the longer a child lives in Temporary Accommodation or unsuitable housing. Homelessness among young people is often the result of family breakdown and can exacerbate existing mental health and substance misuse problems.
Unemployment can be both a cause and consequence of homelessness, with research emphasising the difficulty of maintaining a job when homeless. In England during 2022/2023, 33.9% of the households owed a homeless duty were registered as unemployed, 14.3% were full-time employed, 10.6% were working part-time, 1.5% were students or training, 3.33% were seeking a job, 13.8% were not working due to long term illness and 2.97% were retired. This shows worklessness is much higher among the chronic homeless population. Although, most homeless people want to work, but face significant barriers: low-level qualifications, an absence of soft employability skills, lack of confidence/self-esteem, and limited employment history. The labour market and benefit system are also seen as disincentivizing employment among homeless people with welfare sanctions a particular issue.
A history of homelessness and insecure housing is very high among the prison population. Stable housing solutions are vital in preventing reoffending. People reporting as homeless are often the victim of criminal behaviour and domestic abuse. Rough sleepers are disproportionately victims of crime (77% say they suffered ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) or crime in the last year) but tend not to report incidents to the police. Police custody and the Courts provide many opportunities for addressing the underlying causes of homelessness such as mental ill health.
In addition to the personal toll of homelessness, there are also wider social and economic impacts. Homelessness can lead to increased crime and antisocial behaviour and can place a strain on public services such as healthcare, policing, and social services. It can also harm local businesses and tourism, as well as property values and community cohesion. Homelessness: The Cost of Living Crisis | GN Law
The cost of homelessness is also significant, which includes emergency accommodation, healthcare, and other support services. Investing in preventative measures to address the root causes of homelessness could save the government money in the long run, as well as improving the lives of those affected. According to government figures the cost to the public purse for homelessness and rough sleeping in the UK was over £1.7 billion in 2022/2023.
It is clear that homelessness is not just a personal or individual issue, but a systemic one that requires a coordinated and sustained response from the government, civil society, and the private sector.