As the Government makes claims that rough sleeping is on the decline, Crisis, a charity working for homeless people, is campaigning for a recognition of hidden homelessness.

Shaks Ghosh, the Chief Executive of the homelessness charity Crisis, appeared on the BBC 2 programme ‘East’ to bring attention to the issue of Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) homelessness and the problem of wider hidden homelessness. She called for much more research to find out how appropriate services could be developed to tackle this problem.

In particular, Shaks drew attention to Asian homelessness, which she stated was more often than not hidden.”I can tell you that there is a problem out there that is not being tackled and if we don’t tackle it there will be an explosion... I’m an Asian person myself and when you see the stigma that goes with homelessness the stigma that goes with family breakdown, the unacceptability that goes with drug and alcohol problems in those communities….if you’re homeless and you’re Asian then life is really really tough.’

Crisis has been campaigning strongly for a greater recognition of hidden homelessness. According to Crisis, hidden homelessness effects BME communities in particular because of poor access to mainstream services meaning that black and ethnic minority homeless people will therefore be more likely to be living in temporary and often crowded accommodation

The twilight zone

he latest DTLR figures claim that between 500 and 600 people are sleeping rough in England, the majority in Greater London. While it is this group and these figures which the media and public associate with homelessness, Crisis says research shows that another 400,000 are homeless in the UK, but their plight is hidden and often ignored.

These people live in a “twilight zone” of hostels, bed and breakfast, friends houses, squats and over-crowded accommodation. While many of these people have statutory housing rights, local authorities are expected to refuse accommodation to around 140,000 people this year.

Vital statistics

According to Crisis and other researchers, around 76,500 people are living in bed and breakfast accommodation, around 26,500 people are living in hostels, of which almost ninety percent are single homeless. A further 9,600 single homeless people are squatting and a staggering 265,579 people are living in crowded accommodation with too few bedrooms. Many of these people are considered vulnerable and may be having to cope with poverty, mental health problems, drug or alcohol problems or health problems on top of their poor housing situation.

Criminalised

Asylum Seekers who have been classified as ‘absconded’ have no access to help with accommodation or any other form of support. Having often experienced trauma abroad and now living in fear of deportation, this group are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and the effects of poverty. The Immigration and Nationality Directorate recorded 24,000 abscondees in 1998.

Cycle of homelessness

As part of their campaign on hidden homelessness, Crisis conducted some research with fifty hostel residents in London. Those interviewed had been homeless for an average of over seven years, and slept rough for less than two years, spending most of that time in hostels and other temporary accommodation.

Changing perceptions

While the focus on rough sleeping has brought about some action, it has also made rough sleeping  synonymous with homelessness in many people’s minds. Crisis are hoping to change perceptions and persuade the Government to include hidden homelessness in future policy. The fact that a quarter of all deaths amongst homeless people occur as a result of suicide must surely make their campaign too compelling to ignore.

For further information contact Crisis  0870 011 3335, email to or go to: http://www.crisis.org.uk