The Sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K.

While the Conservative government has recently increased its military budget to its highest level in 30 years, research shows that the number of homeless people in the U.K. has risen by 83% over the past decade. The sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. comes as Boris Johnson’s policies in recent years have led to further poverty in the U.K.

Highest homelessness rate since 2006

Statistics show a sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. The Shelter’s registered 253,000 homeless people as of the end of June, which is limited to England and does not include the number of homeless in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is the highest figure since 2006. 

The Shelter had previously reported that every eight minutes, a child in the U.K. becomes homeless; Statistics show that homelessness in the country has reached its highest level since 2006. The aggravation of the problem of homelessness and the deepening of the class divide in the society, according to the statistics provided from inside this country, are still increasing in the streets of this country.

Increasing the number of homeless with the Covid-19 outbreak

The charity’s analysis of government data shows that in the first quarter, the outbreak of the Covid-19 increased by 6,000 homeless people in the U.K., which indicates a sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. However, human rights activists believe that the number of homeless people in the U.K. is much higher than the government estimates. 

 The number of homeless people who spend their nights in tents and along public roads is not included in the government’s calculations. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, says the published statistics show the pre-crisis situation. “Over a quarter of a million people – half of them children – are homeless and stuck in temporary accommodation. This should shame us all. With this deadly virus on the loose, 2020 has taught us the value of a safe home like never before. But too many are going without because of the chronic lack of social homes.”

Poor housing conditions

With the sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K., reports suggest that the municipality is housing the homeless in appalling conditions. These people generally live in non-standard buildings, full of unpleasant odours and mould. The use of emergency B&Bs alone has increased by a staggering 371% over the last ten years. There are many families, mothers and children who live in a small room, and their bathroom and kitchen are the same as the other inhabitants of the inn. This condition is especially unbearable during Covid-19 outbreaks.

High homelessness in the U.K.

According to Shelter, more than two-thirds (68%) of the homeless live in the U.K. capital alone, which is equivalent to 1 of every 52 people in the capital. Luton has the highest number of homeless people after London, with one in 55 homeless. This is followed by Brighton and Hove (1 in 78), Manchester (1 in 93) and Birmingham (1 in 94). The sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. has come at a time when the British are experiencing a recession following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Terrible UK economic outlook

The plan was widely welcomed by various British political parties as experts painted a bleak picture of the U.K.’s Covid-19 economic situation. The sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. is one of the signs. Combining the impacts of Covid-19 and Brexit, a joint forecast from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Citi bank predicted GDP will remain 2.5% smaller than would have otherwise been the case by 2024-25. The U.K. Office for Budget also predicts that the country’s economic power will be at its lowest level in 300 years.

Charities are concerned about rising homelessness in the U.K.

Following the sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K., charities have warned that the climate crisis is increasing the risk of homelessness in the country and calls for immediate action to help people without Shelter. Housing charities warn that homeless people and those in poor housing conditions are at increased risk of a climate crisis while suffering the consequences of our dependence on costly fossil fuels.

The need for immediate action to help the homeless

The leaders of three of the U.K.’s biggest housing charities have written to ministers calling for immediate action to help them this winter and improve inadequate housing. They also called for a coherent future strategy on how to achieve the U.K.’s goal of zero carbon emissions as it builds new homes. The letter, signed by the heads of three major charities in the U.K., is the first to discuss climate change at the joint request of ministers. These organizations are increasingly concerned about the effects of drastic climate change on vulnerable people and improving housing conditions while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Vulnerable people in the community at risk

With the sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K., the leaders of three major housing charities have pointed to the homeless whose temporary shelters were destroyed in this summer’s floods and the families living in emergency shelters, which coincided with this summer’s extreme heatwave. They were deprived of cooling and now face the rising costs of heat from fossil fuels that they cannot afford. Recalling the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, which the U.K. government promised to play a leading role in responding to the climate crisis, they wrote: “It is the poorest who are being hit hardest by the climate emergency … We know we need to do what we can now.”

Offer charities to vulnerable people

Due to the sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K., charities have proposed a pilot project that shows how housing optimization, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, can be done at a reasonable cost to social shelters. How zero-carbon transfer can help vulnerable people reduce their bills and create better places to live.

The sharp increase in homelessness in the U.K. comes as the U.K. has recently increased its military budget by $21.9 billion. Speaking in Parliament a few months ago, the UK PM said: “For decades, the U.K. government has pared and trimmed our defence budget. If we go on like this, we risk waking up to discover our armed forces have fallen below the minimum threshold of viability. I have refused to pick up the scalpel yet again. I’ve decided the era of cutting must end and end now.” This waste of money comes at a time when many Britons are not in a good financial position due to the post-Brexit and prevalence of the Covid-19, and their purchasing power is greatly reduced.