Has “Stay At Home” Shifted Attitudes Towards Helping the Homeless?
When the UK went into lockdown, and the public was told to “Stay at home”, many of us took for granted the fact that this included shelter, food, a shower. At the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, the government pledged £3.2m to help victims of another endemic that has been unfolding in the UK for decades: Homelessness. Since then, communities secretary, Robert Jenrick, has made several claims that 90 per cent of rough sleepers were housed during the pandemic. But no official data has been published. And, as the nation emerges from months of isolation, many are wondering what happens to the homeless now.
Housing charity, Shelter, estimates that 280,000 people are homeless in England alone. A notable portion of rough sleepers are in London, where ludicrous renting prices mean that 1 in 52 people are homeless. Other remarkable homelessness rates are seen in Birmingham (1 in 66) and Brighton and Hove (1 in 75). Rates have shown a significant increase since 2016 in Scotland, where a household becomes homeless every 18 minutes. The UK is supposedly the fifth-largest economy in the world, so why do such a large portion of our population end up sleeping on the streets?
In a 2018 report, charity support organisation Think NPC highlighted the systemic issues that have led to an increase in the numbers of rough sleepers on the streets of Britain. Employment rates are plummeting, and minimum wage jobs fail to provide for low-income families. Yet rent continues to increase. Since the Right to Buy scheme, social housing has disappeared off the market, with the government failing to replace such essential property with sufficient new developments. As poverty rates rocket, welfare support spending continues to decrease. It is no coincidence that 1 in 3 homeless families are BAME – evidencing mass overrepresentation. Nor that up to 45 per cent of homeless people stating that they suffer from long-term conditions, illustrating that a lack of disability and mental health support is a known contributor. And systemic discrimination against such communities only serves to block their access to support services and equality. Attitudes toward addiction propel drug and alcohol abusers into homelessness instead of rehabilitation. The same can be said for ex-prisoners. Additionally, one third of homeless women stated that domestic violence contributed to their homelessness. But instead of recognising the vulnerabilities of homeless populations, they have been perpetually discriminated against and denied substantial care.
When the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a grinding halt, the homeless represented some of the most susceptible. And with the impending economic crisis that will inevitably follow, it is imperative that the government take preventative measures to ensure homelessness rates do not continue to increase. Already, the effects of a raging homelessness crisis are far more tangible than numbers and statistics. Particularly in London, no daily commute can avoid those dwelling in doorways, stations, and underpasses. When the PM announced a nationwide lockdown, telling us to “Stay At Home”, it was blatant that one of the most at-risk groups were those that had no home to stay at. With many suffering from pre-existing health conditions, their safety was compromised. Furthermore, with a total shutdown of even the busiest of streets, there would be no foot traffic to provide the small change and food donations that enable some rough sleepers to survive.
The government’s “Everyone In” scheme was part of an emergency response to get rough sleepers off the streets during the lockdown period. Though no official figures have been released, reports suggest that some 14,500 people were given emergency accommodation over the past 3 months. Many were moved into empty hotels and hostels, provided with food and clothing, in order to allow them to isolate safely and effectively. Once settled in emergency accommodation, medical and financial support services were on offer for those that required it. It was an astounding preview to a world in which nobody is forced to sleep rough. It is simply shameful that it took a global pandemic to give the homeless the care they deserve.
However, with many contracts between hotels and local authorities ending this month, the harsh reality is that many of the homeless will be thrown back onto the streets with little to no support from the central government. In a speech addressing plans to reboot the economy, Boris Johnson acknowledged Britain’s desire for “a government that is powerful and determined and that puts its arms around people at a time of crisis, that tackles homelessness [and] the inequalities that drive people to food banks”. Amongst other promises, the PM stated intentions to “build fantastic new homes” alongside an “infrastructure revolution”. The UK is rapidly approaching a critical point to manage homelessness. Matt Downie of Crisis charity has rightly stated that “we will take one of two paths here.” Either thousands of people will receive support and be helped out of homelessness for good, or there will be a stark increase in homelessness and a lack of funding to support those that need it.
So, the government has vowed to create 3,300 homes within the next 12 months, bringing forward a significant amount of its £381m four-year rough sleeping services budget. Ministers also announced £6m toward helping homeless charities in the coming months. But there is little guidance on exactly how the government will continue to support the homeless in the interim. There is a large gap in the provision of emergency accommodation being terminated, and the promise of these new homes. As we have learnt from Leicester, covid-19 has not disappeared. But as hospitality, leisure, and other industries open their doors once more, little thought is given to the UK’s rough sleepers. Arguably some of the most vulnerable to the respiratory virus, they were put up in luxury hotels for weeks on end, only to be forcibly removed in favour of economic regrowth. What follow-up care will they receive now that, once again, they are without shelter or food or access to sanitation? Everyone In quickly became Everyone Back Out Again once the government deemed the immense economic damage to be greater than corona’s risk to public health.
More schemes like Manchester City Council’s A Bed Every Night programme are required as successors to Everyone In, in order to provide continuing support for the homeless population. In a letter to government on 6 July, housing charity Crisis called for emergency homelessness legislation that would maximise access to support services. Look online to see how you can support the homeless in your local area. Perhaps you have a little spare cash to donate this month or can take the time to volunteer. Alternatively, could you write to your local MP to encourage them to enforce action? We are fast approaching a pivotal moment for homelessness in the UK; it is vital that we do not miss the opportunity. These are the most vulnerable members of the community, they are the people that social welfare has failed. It is time to stop rushing past the sleeping bags huddling in doorways. It is time to stop averting our eyes and start taking a more proactive stance on homelessness.
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