UK: Don't abandon people in crisis: Public want more from Government this World Homelessness Day
78% of UK adults say that people with direct experience of homelessness should be included when developing policies to tackle homelessness
The majority (72%) believe that homelessness is a major problem in the UK and should be given urgent priority by Government, with 73% saying they are not doing enough to help
Nearly three quarters (73%) agree that having access to a home is a fundamental human right and should be protected by law
“Government strategy is only a piece of paper without action. We need action now for those facing winter in unsuitable temporary accommodation or experiencing life on the streets.” - Jen Clark
The latest annual Government statistics on October 4th showed a 12.3% rise in homelessness and with people trapped in temporary accommodation at an all-time high since records began. *
On World Homelessness Day (October 10th), Amnesty International UK has published new data showing what the UK public think about political action, which reveals homelessness is seen as a major UK problem and that the Government must do more, including developing solutions with those who have direct experience.
In his first press conference as Prime Minister, Keir Starmer said: 'The principle I operate to is those with skin in the game know what's best for their communities' and nearly eight in ten polling respondents** agreed that those with lived experience of homelessness should be included when developing policies to tackle this.
Amnesty is calling on the Government to invite those with lived experience of homelessness, to hear firsthand what immediate solutions there are to both the current emergency and longer-term strategy. Urgent action is needed to protect people as the rise in homelessness shows us that many people will be facing a life-or-death situation this winter without safe and secure housing.
At a roundtable hosted by the human rights organisation, people with lived experience shared their desire for their voices to be heard and how without the protection of everyday rights they feel oppressive stigma from society.
Tony said: “As a person who has been homeless in the past, I know how difficult it is to get out of homelessness. The Prime Minister said it is people with the skin in the game who know what is best for their community. So, listen to us.”
*The following names have been anonymised
Lucy said: “You think like everyone is judging you, they’re thinking you chose it, that it's your choice, whereas it is not. I was an asylum seeker it was not my choice. Then I became a refugee and asked to leave the accommodation, that was not my choice. Then I became homeless, that was not my choice. If I did not take a shower for a long time, that was not my choice because I did not have the shower facility.”
Dillon said: “We all see homeless people in doorways, you see Councils building aggressive architecture. And this all sort of shows how we think of people experiencing homelessness as being some kind of scourge on society. What we really need to be doing is flipping that over and realising its society being the scourge on its most vulnerable.”
Jody said: “To tackle stigma we need to be more compassionate towards others and understand how it makes people feel.”
Jen Clark, Economic and social rights lead at Amnesty International UK, said:
“This World Homelessness Day, the public back Amnesty’s call for Government to involve those with direct experience to create solutions to end this horrifying crisis for good.
“Homelessness is often the result of a devastating domino effect triggered by poor decision making within siloed Government departments who repeatedly fail to protect our basic human rights and dignity.
“Whilst the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced the development of a strategy to end homelessness, this is not new - strategy is only a piece of paper without action. We still do not know when, with who or how this strategy will be developed. We need solutions developed with those with skin in the game and we need urgent action now for those facing winter in unsuitable temporary accommodation or experiencing life on the streets.”
Additional findings from the poll, conducted in September 2024, showed that:
A third (35%) of UK adults say they are worried that themselves or someone they know may become homeless in the next 12 months.
Among those who are renting in the UK, either privately, or through their local council or housing association, approaching half (47%) say they are worried that they, or someone they know, will become homeless in the next 12 months. This was highest at 47% with young adults aged 16-34.
*Since 1998
**Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,000 UK adults aged 16+ online on 27th to 29th September 2024. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.