Homelessness and Loneliness
In the UK
Manchester, United Kingdom
Across the UK, there are numerous charities working extensively to support homeless people and try to end this crisis throughout the nation. A lot of these charities work one to one with people in need to offer support and advice, whilst carrying out crucial research into the issue.
However, even with this research the problem is still widely underestimated as some forms of homelessness are unmeasurable, specifically hidden homelessness.
At the end of 2021, in Britain, around 227,000 households were experiencing the worst type of homelessness and by 2022 approximately 282,000 people were considered homeless or at risk of homelessness in England according to the charity Crisis. Homelessness has been increasing year after year and the UK saw a huge upsurge just prior to the pandemic in 2019 with a further 11,400 households in crisis.
Alongside the core issues homeless people face daily, such as their safety and finding food, loneliness and feeling isolated is a more than a common problem for people in need.
61% of homeless service users identify with feeling lonely and the negative encounters they frequently experience whilst rough sleeping furthers these feelings of loneliness resulting in 53% of homeless people finding it harder to seek support.
Homelessness is commonly misunderstood by the public; it was found seven out of ten homeless people felt “others would treat them as if it was their own fault, they were homeless.” Whereas there are several causes of homelessness, many in which are uncontrollable, for example, some people are forced into homelessness after leaving prison, care or the army when they have nowhere else to stay.
Furthermore, personal experiences such as job loss, mental and physical health issues, and relationships breaking down can lead to homelessness. Evidently, many women who leave violent or abusive relationships are forced into temporary accommodation and rough sleeping. A study from the Save Lives charity found that 32% of homeless women said domestic violence contributed to their homelessness.
All causes of homelessness can lead to feeling isolated and alone, moreover, this can result in poor mental wellbeing. In 2014, in the UK 80% of homeless people struggled with mental health due to their housing situation. Many mental health charities and support groups advise that seeking help and speaking to someone about your mental health is crucial for improving your mental wellbeing. However, a study from the charity Crisis, found that in an emergency only a quarter of homeless people in their study felt they could call a friend. This highlights the feeling of isolation and lack of companionship homeless people feel daily.
Homelessness and mental health are just the beginning of a slippery slope for those at-risk face. The Crisis charity found that, loneliness and isolation have been shown to alter the functioning of the brain, leading to those afflicted to switch into ‘self-preservation mode’ making them more defensive and abrasive towards others. Unfortunately, these feelings can lead to a decrease in a person’s mental well-being and make it more difficult for them to reach out for help.
This vicious cycle makes it extremely difficult for people who are homeless to find appropriate housing. Therefore, collectively we need to aid the homeless community by furthering the crucial help available to them than just free meals and temporary stays in shelters.
