So you want to help end homelessness?

THERE IS NO ONE CAUSE AND THERE IS NO ‘THEY’

Among the causes may be:

Parents, friends or relatives unwilling or unable to continue to accommodate them
A family or partner with unaddressed long term issues that is too dangerous to stay living with
No money for bond/rent in advance, no references, no employment
Loss of an assured shorthold tenancy.
Lack of affordable housing
Lack of accessible accommodation for people with disabilities
Lack of supported living places for people with disabilities
Lack of public housing
Inflexible housing policies (homeless people without family may have a pet as family which is not accomodated due to no-pets housing policies).
A range of unresolved problems building up over time

PERSONAL CAUSES

lack of qualifications,
lack of social support,
debts – especially mortgage or rent arrears,
poor physical and mental health,
relationship breakdown,
getting involved in crime at an early age
family background including family breakdown and disputes,
sexual and physical abuse in childhood or adolescence,
having parents with drug or alcohol problems,
previous experience of family homelessness,
an institutional background including having been in care, the armed forces, or in prison

stigma in the way of seeking help
issues with personal boundaries, impulse control, prioritising, self care, estrangement.

PERSONAL SOLUTIONS

Support from friends and family, and the community
Awareness and social support from the community
Funding and provision of intervention, advice, counseling, training
Funding and provision of alternative accommodation.
Committed hard work from the individual or family in trouble to turn their life around.

STRUCTURAL CAUSES

unemployment
poverty
a lack of affordable housing
restrictive housing policies
structure and administration of housing benefit
closure of long-stay psychiatric hospitals

STRUCTURAL SOLUTIONS

long-term policy solutions including:

changes in the housing benefit system,
building more affordable homes,
More flexible housing policies
Spreading wealth, skills, education, awareness and opportunities

SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Vote for national and local governments which seriously fund programs that address issues like:

Affordable housing shortage,
Mental illness,
Affordable health care and rehabilitation
Addiction, family violence and abuse, parenting skills
Affordable access to skills training and education for all.
Work opportunities for disadvantaged people and training in self employment opportunities for those unable to work for others

And commit to a personal attitude in which you strive to

Suspend pre-judgement and assumptions
Connect – say hello
Listen openly to people’s stories
Fundraise, donate or volunteer time, goods, resources and skills to services for homeless people
Volunteer to help fix houses or shelters.
Speak out about the issues
Share information, resources and skills

SOURCE: http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/you.pdf