When Can We Start Trying To Solve All The Important Issues That Matter?
By: B. A. Cumberlidge.
Tags: Racism, Food And Drink, Raise Awareness, Homelessness, Resolutions

Here are some statistics:

An estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter. This equates to one in every 201 Brits and was an increase of four per cent on the previous year’s number.

As of March 2019, 84,740 households are stuck in temporary accommodation, up more than 75 per cent since December 2010, where the use of B&Bs and hotels to put up hard-up families hit its lowest point since 2004. Shockingly, Shelter estimate there will be 135,000 children living in temporary accommodation by Christmas 2019.

Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of the iceberg when it comes to registering and understanding the homelessness crisis. The widening net of poverty and the breakdown of mental health provision means numbers are growing. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people bed down on the streets on any given night, a figure that has almost doubled since 2010.

Christmas sees homelessness get increased airtime, but for rough sleepers, the struggle is all year round. Here’s what you should do if you see someone sleeping rough

December 4, 2019

By The Big Issue@BigIssue

An estimated 320,000 people are homeless in the UK, according to the latest research by Shelter. This equates to one in every 201 Brits and was an increase of four per cent on the previous year’s number.

Rough sleepers are just the visible tip of the iceberg when it comes to registering and understanding the homelessness crisis. The widening net of poverty and the breakdown of mental health provision means numbers are growing. Between 4,000 and 5,000 people bed down on the streets on any given night, a figure that has almost doubled since 2010.

As of March 2019, 84,740 households are stuck in temporary accommodation, up more than 75 per cent since December 2010, where the use of B&Bs and hotels to put up hard-up families hit its lowest point since 2004. Shockingly, Shelter estimate there will be 135,000 children living in temporary accommodation by Christmas 2019.

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Besides, there is an uncertain number of ‘hidden homeless’ who are unknown to authorities, staying with relatives or friends, sofa surfing or sleeping in cars or the countryside — places official counts don’t cover.

It’s a national disgrace and the chorus of voices calling for real action on every level is growing louder every day.

There has been a renewed focus on homelessness this year. People are talking about it, taking part in charity fundraisers and moving it up the political agenda — and it is no surprise. As common a sight as Christmas shoppers on our high streets is rough sleepers huddled in doorways across the country.

However, this is NOT just a Christmas issue.

An estimated 726 people died while homeless in England and Wales in 2018. This was up 22% on the previous year — the highest year-to-year rise since this data began being collected. The average age was 45 years old for men and 43 years old for homeless women — compared to 76 years old and 81 years old for the wider population.

For 28 years The Big Issue has been on the frontline offering a way out, and one of the best things you can do is to buy this magazine every week, take your copy and support your vendor as they work hard to earn their way out of the poverty trap.

Statistics and Information courtesy of Big Issue.com.