Homelessness When we were told to stay at home with the first lockdown of March 2020, most of us were able to do so secure in the knowledge that we had a roof over our heads. However, as Tahlia Jurkovic found, for those who were sleeping rough, squatting, sofa surfing, threatened by domestic violence or living in other insecure conditions, the pandemic added to already considerable worries. However, this research also showed that many organisations used the crisis as an opportunity to adapt and expand their services to reach more people, and to provide more than just advice.
“The government's definition of homelessness completely disregards the experiences of a huge portion of people that we see.” Maria, Bristol MAPS In March 2020, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a national strategy to bring rough sleepers off the streets, guarding against the spread of Covid-19 by housing those in need in unused hotels and hostels. This strategy, named ‘Everyone In’, was mostly hailed as a success for the homeless and, according to the Bristol City Council Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, reduced the numbers of rough sleepers to 43 by March 2021. However, the numbers of homeless people in temporary and emergency accommodation have increased substantially. The number of people living in temporary accommodation in Bristol has increased by 330% compared to pre-pandemic levels, with numbers being bumped up after the end of each lockdown. Organisations participating in this research echoed these findings, stating that their referrals and support requests have increased dramatically.
For people in unsafe or non-existent housing arrangements, following government public health advice during the pandemic proved far more difficult. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in drastic changes to social interactions for everyone, and this has led to changes to services, support, and spaces that are heavily utilised by those struggling to find adequate housing. The move to working from home also meant that many homelessness charities ceased their face-toface services – facilities and support which is often a lifeline for those without a home. According to the 2019 National Rough Sleeper Count, Bristol ranked third among local authorities in England for numbers of rough sleepers. As alarming as this may be, it only scratches the surface of the much wider spread of homelessness in the city. A 2017 Shelter report on homelessness found that 97% of homelessness in Bristol did not involve rough sleeping. Many participants in this study echoed these findings, commenting on the expansion of the ‘hidden’ homeless in recent years, a situation that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Many people experiencing homelessness, including those who are ‘sofa surfing’, at risk of domestic violence, in unsafe homes, squatting, van and tent dwelling, or generally in insecure and unstable accommodation, are not visible to the general population, and often do not appear in official local and national counts of the homeless. Often, charities and service providers are left to manage the large numbers of people who do not fit into government definitions of homelessness but are still at risk of or experiencing issues finding, securing and maintaining a home.
“I’ve had young people that will be on my [waiting] list for a year […] no-one’s moving on.” Chris, 1625 Independent People
Help Bristol’s Homeless, Bedminster
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