HARD HOMELESSNESS
HIDDEN HOMELESSNESS
PREVENT HOMELESSNESS
END POVERTY IN U.K.

Some figures.
 
People who sleep rough end up on the street for a variety of reasons. But we can, however, make some generalizations about homeless people. More than 2400 of them sleep rough every night in Greater London including inner London.

There are thousands of homeless people live in bed & breakfast, hostels in Greater London. We also know that one in ten are women and that one in six are under 25 and one in 14 over 60.

WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME HOMELESS?

The answer to this is complicated. Our society has changed greatly in the last few decades. Social problems such as family break-up and crime have increased as the bonds of society have lessened and homelessness is one aspect of this change in society.

Kali Mata Mandir believes that homelessness is usually a symptom of a more fundamental problem that rough sleepers have. Many are either mentally ill, physically ill, heavy drinkers or drug users. A person who sleeps rough usually had more difficult background than most, which may lie at the root of many of these problems. Rough sleepers may find it difficult to sustain close ties with others. And the break-up of a relationship is the most common trigger for going on the street.

ACCOMMODATION

Once on the street, rough sleepers may find it difficult to come off. There may not be enough beds in hostels or they may have accommodation they are given as unsuitable. Some may not wish to come off the streets because they fear authority.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

The reasons people begin sleeping rough are varied; each homeless person has his own story or in some cases, her own story. Nevertheless, we know that many have had difficult family background.

*      Between a quarter and third of people on the street have been looked after by local authorities while they were children

*       Of those in hostels for the homeless, 40% have one or more indicators of disordered family back ground; being in care, being sent to a young offenders institute, being suspended or expelled from school or being fostered or adopted. 

We believe that many homeless people?s difficulties in later life begin here; poor parenting, parents who themselves are heavy drinkers or neglectful or abusive, can set bad examples for their children?s behaviors. Some rough sleepers go on the streets after leaving home following a dispute with parents.

BECOMING HOMELESS

This type of family background can lead to difficulties relating to other people, heavy drinking, drug abuse and mental illness. These problems, coupled with difficulties finding suitable housing and unemployment, lead to homelessness. When rough sleepers were asked what the trigger was for them first becoming homeless, the most common reason given are;

*       Relation breakdown =39%

*       Heavy drinking= 21%

*       Losing job= 18%

*      Having no money to pay for housing=13%

STAYING HOMELESS

Those rough sleepers who do not have a drink, drugs or mental health problem may find that the conditions on the streets create one. It is estimated that-

*       Over half have mental health problems

*       Around a half have drink problems

*       And a fifth have drug problem

        MORE TO FOLLOW.....