Centre for Homelessness Impact’s Post

Youth homelessness remains one of the most pressing social issues in the UK, reflecting deep-rooted inequalities and systemic failures. With the recent change of Government, I have high hopes that Labour's compassionate policies could pave the way towards a more equitable society where everyone has a place to call home. Youth homelessness is not merely a lack of housing; it is a multifaceted issue intertwined with mental health, addiction, unemployment, and inadequate social safety nets. Addressing it requires more than just providing shelter; it necessitates a holistic approach that considers the root causes and interconnected problems faced by those experiencing homelessness. LandAid has written a blog post on The five things we know about Labour’s approach to ending homelessness. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ed3yZs_P #endyouthhomelessness #housingcrisis #equitablefuture | DMWR Architects Ltd | Aart Koning | Gary Wolstenholme | Barry Harper-Smith

HOW WE UNDERSTAND HOMELESSNESS? Homelessness Week has become an annual reminder of the continuing problem of homelessness in Australia.   The aim of ‘ending homelessness’ is these days often expressed. But what does ‘ending homelessness’ actually mean? Ending homelessness cannot be accomplished  without clarity about what is meant by ‘homelessness’ and how the concept of ‘homelessness’ is applied in policy and programs.   In Australia, unlike many other countries, homelessness is understand as more than ‘rooflessness’ and ‘rough sleeping’. The general public, however, tends to think of ‘homelessness’ as people sleeping in public space because that is what they see. However, this is a small cohort in the total population of Australians experiencing homelessness. By contrast, professionals working in homeless services or government do understand the complexity and broader extent of homelessness. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (2020) submission to the national Inquiry into Homelessness in Australia, refers to the two main definitions of homelessness in Australia: the cultural definition (1992) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) statistical definition (2012). Both definitions include a broader range of circumstances understood as ‘homelessness’.   A focus on ending rough sleeping is not the same as a focus on ending homelessness as a social problem. #endyouthhomelessness #HW2024 #youthhomelessness #homelessness #homelessnessweek

A striking report from Homelessness Australia and UNSW released today found 10,000 more Australians are experiencing rough sleeping each month, a 22% increase in three years, with the housing crisis cited as the major driver. The report also found homelessness services have reported a 12% rise in monthly caseloads since 2019-20, plus an increase in employed people seeking support.   As a community housing provider and specialist homelessness service, we have also seen an increase in people needing help with housing. We echo the authors’ finding that “adequate provision of social housing is crucial in reducing homelessness” and that the potential of the current funding commitments to increase supply are to be celebrated (p.124). We need more social and affordable homes, and more bipartisan political support for them, to best tackle this escalating crisis.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/gSdwNeVt #CommunityHousing #Homelessness #SpecialistHomelessnessServices #BuildSocialHousing

The interconnected issues of mental health, homelessness, human trafficking, and modern slavery demand a coordinated and compassionate response. By understanding and addressing the underlying causes and reinforcing support systems, policymakers and service providers can break the cycles of vulnerability and exploitation. This requires a shift from punitive approaches to ones that prioritize human dignity and comprehensive care.

Last week, three major Supreme Court rulings were made that will DEFINITELY impact you: 🏘 Through its Grant's Pass decision, justices said that anyone can be punished for sleeping outside. Regardless of if shelters are full or if housing is too expensive in your neighborhood. Or worse, if they just want to kick you out of a public place for existing. 🤑 In the Snyder decision, justices deemed that bribes were not against the law. Political corruption will be harder to penalize. Or worse, industry interests and those with money can now reward politicians for policy that favors them. 🏛 With the Chevron decision, the Court removed the power that federal agencies have over their own regulations. This means important cross-cutting issues like public health, the environment, and workplace safety should receive outside judgement. Or worse, private interests will continue to dominate what should be public decisions. These decisions are appalling, anti-people and anti-common sense. They will result in worse health and more homelessness. They will make Climate Change worse. They will make any of the work that you're doing in the broad social good space, harder. FwdSlash is going to keep fighting for solutions that are grounded in compassion for everyone. Personally, now that these rulings are made, I think we should start by *bribing some politicians* to set rent limits, implement eviction moratoria, and increase access to behavioral health and primary care services. Regardless, we'll work towards addressing the needs of the historically oppressed, displaced or marginalized, not making their lives harder. Read more about our commitment in our latest blog post.

Hope for Justice has signed a joint letter to the new leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, calling on the new Government to end the criminalisation of homelessness. Homelessness can be an outcome of modern slavery and also a vulnerability which places people at risk of being targeted by traffickers. Perpetrators may exploit a person’s lack of housing by offering illegal work, money, somewhere to live, and sometimes alcohol or drugs. They then gain control over the individual. We have worked with survivors who managed to escape from their traffickers, but then ended up homeless because they had nowhere to go. We are one of 25 signatories – homelessness, housing and human rights organisations – who are urging the new UK Government to scrap the Vagrancy Act. This legislation makes it a crime to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales. But we do not believe this law tackles the root causes of homelessness. In fact, it is more likely to push someone further away from safety and the vital services that help them. We want to see an end to this vicious cycle. We hope that Labour will stand by its manifesto pledge to develop a cross-government strategy to end homelessness. You can read the joint letter in full here: https://lnkd.in/eQZ_frWv #VagrancyAct #ScraptheAct #Homelessness #RoughSleeping #ModernSlavery

Look, I’m not going to pretend I understand the full extent of the homelessness crisis in Ontario. It’s complex, multifaceted, and deeply entrenched in systemic issues. But asking Premier Doug Ford to invoke the notwithstanding clause to forcibly clear homeless encampments and strip people of their Charter rights feels like the wrong answer to the wrong question. Encampments are far from ideal. Even here in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, we see the many challenges they pose — for surrounding residents, businesses, communities, and those living in them. But criminalizing poverty and homelessness does nothing to address the underlying causes. Where are the voluntary care options? The investments in housing, mental health support, and social services? Treating homelessness as a public nuisance rather than a #PublicHealth and social issue is not just shortsighted — it’s harmful.

Yesterday's #JohnsonVGrantsPass case discussed various questions related to criminalizing homelessness. However, it should push us to reflect on the resources & investments needed to truly support those living without homes. Read my article just published in the Connecticut Mirror- https://lnkd.in/ePrWx2bg

🔍 Check out this blog by Ann Edge, Nancy Holman & Christine Whitehead, following up on their research into youth homelessness in Hackney and the challenges posed by rising rents & limited social housing https://buff.ly/3ZmQ20U