Picture courtesy of The Guardian

 

The number of homeless individuals in England far surpasses official data, according to research by the charity Crisis. The study reveals that approximately 189,000 families dealing with severe homelessness, such as rough sleeping and sofa surfing, are missing from government statistics. The discrepancy arises because official figures only account for those declaring themselves homeless to local authorities.

 

Crisis reports a 20% increase in people experiencing severe homelessness since 2022, estimating the current number at around 300,000. A significant factor contributing to this is the rise in unsuitable temporary accommodation. The research, conducted with Herriot-Watt University, shows a dramatic increase from 19,200 households in unsuitable conditions in 2020 to 46,700 in 2024.

 

The government maintains it is tackling the issue with a biennial investment of 34.6 billion THB in homelessness services for 2025/26, marking an increase of 10.9 billion THB from the prior year. However, Crisis highlights many who don't qualify for homelessness support, including those in unconventional accommodation like cars and tents. An additional 18,600 families are living in such conditions, while 70% of local councils report a rise in requests for assistance.

 

Crisis demands urgent government action. Matt Downie, its chief executive, stressed that no one should endure unsafe living environments, urging swift governmental intervention. The government's response includes an 84 million THB boost to support efforts against homelessness this winter, alongside a proposed strategy to eliminate Section 21 'no fault' evictions, reported BBC.

 

Looking ahead, Labour has committed to a new homelessness strategy, promising collaboration with mayors and councils. However, some concerns are growing due to the delayed implementation of this strategy, anticipated to launch before year-end. The survey accompanying Crisis's report underscores the urgency, with the increasing number of councils seeing more homeless assistance requests.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Crisis research shows severe homelessness underreported by 189,000 cases.
• Government commits 34.6 billion THB for 2025/26 towards homelessness services.
• Labour plans a new homelessness policy, pending launch by year’s end.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-11-10

 

 

"Looking ahead, Labour has committed to a new homelessness strategy, promising collaboration with mayors and councils. However, some concerns are growing due to the delayed implementation of this strategy"

 

Why not kick out all the illegal 'migrants' out of the hotels and put the homeless in them??

Who cares about British homeless people, as long as the human rights of the illegals are maintained in their 4 star hotels, right?

I didn't see the research about why they are homeless. I had read several years ago many had mental health issues in addition to economic poverty. I understand no one wants to see people sleeping on the streets, but offering mental health support may help.

Presumably, the homeless are unemployed so placing then into care and finding them work may help.

The Labour government don't care about the British people illegal asylum seekers and immigrants come first 🙄 

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

I didn't see the research about why they are homeless. I had read several years ago many had mental health issues in addition to economic poverty. I understand no one wants to see people sleeping on the streets, but offering mental health support may help.

Presumably, the homeless are unemployed so placing then into care and finding them work may help.

A lot of families from what I read are homeless because they can not afford the rent or find a place to rent.  Same thing here and in every country.  

 

The solution is not to have a assistance strategy but to actualy fund the building of apartments with 2 bedrooms and rent themon geared to income basis for people that re working and trying toake ends meet.  NOT IMMIGRANTS THAT JUST SNUCK INTO THE COOUNTRY

 

 

2 hours ago, shackleton said:

The Labour government don't care about the British people illegal asylum seekers and immigrants come first 🙄 

By their deeds judge them.

 

By their deeds none of the previously serving British political parties seem trustworthy.

 

Difficult to judge Reform UK, except by what they say.

However Reform UK is very much in the pocket of Nigel Farage.  Who talks a lot of sense.  But strikes me as being devious.  Not a good sign.  He needs to be held to his word.  But can that be done by a party with much popular support at the present time, but internally lacking democratic roots?

 

When Farage sought Enoch Powell's endorsement for a by-election, the ageing Powell refused, apparently because he considered him "an opportunist".

 

One should not consider that as conclusive evidence.  But it may be helpful in forming an opinion to listen to some others who have had dealings with Farage, such as Ben Habib, a former co-deputy leader of Reform UK, who has founded the party Advance UK.

 

We Shall NEVER Surrender - A New Dawn is Coming- The News At Ben Ep20

 

Ben Habib is taking on Nigel Farage with new party - and it's about time
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/ben-habib-is-taking-on-nigel-farage-with-new-party-and-its-about-time/ar-AA1HFFwV
[not my favourite news source!]

 

Ben Habib launches new political party Advance UK on The Andrew Eborn Show to save the Nation!
https://www.youtube.com/live/mmDUZG6Aeeg

 

 

Decades of trickle down economics has resulted in a hyper wealthy class at one end of society and abject poverty at the other.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Decades of trickle down economics has resulted in a hyper wealthy class at one end of society and abject poverty at the other.

 

 

 

   There is no abject poverty in the UK .

The poor are a  lot better off these days , then the poor from previous generations 

Too many people in the country , and not enough affordable accommodation. Rents have gone crazy the last few years.Happening in alot of countries in Europe.Meanwhile thousands of economic migrants are flooding into the country every week.If America can completely seal their border why can't the UK. Give the Royal navy something to do.

18 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Decades of trickle down economics has resulted in a hyper wealthy class at one end of society and abject poverty at the other.

 

 

 

We warned you what would happen when hundreds of thousands of immigrants come into the country without the additional housing in place to handle them.

 

Same as we warned you what would happen to the NHS with hundreds of thousands more people needing treatment. 

 

Same as we warned you about the rise in unemployment with hundreds of thousands more people in the job market. 

 

Of course, you knew better. We needed all these "doctors and engineers" to send GDP rocketing. How did that work out?

How predictable that the resident far right wing nuts use this humanitarian real problem to shoehorn their racism into the debate.

 The homeless problem is as a direct result of 46 years of increasingly right wing central UK governments depriving local authorities of funding with the result that social housing suffered.

Mad bat Thatcher should have been locked up for her policy of denying local authorities to spend the proceeds of council house sales on replenishment of the housing stock.

Hey, look over there, another dinghy!

3 minutes ago, Red Forever said:

How predictable that the resident far right wing nuts use this humanitarian real problem to shoehorn their racism into the debate.

 The homeless problem is as a direct result of 46 years of increasingly right wing central UK governments depriving local authorities of funding with the result that social housing suffered.

Mad bat Thatcher should have been locked up for her policy of denying local authorities to spend the proceeds of council house sales on replenishment of the housing stock.

Hey, look over there, another dinghy!

Not thousands arriving weekly in rubber boats then.........?  🤫

Not sure it is wise to blame immigrants for people sleeping on the streets. Anglo Saxons have been sleeping on the streets since Victorian times and no one cared. 

As of June 2025, there were an estimated 8,732 people sleeping rough over the course of the month in England. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rough-sleeping-data-framework-april-to-june-2025/rough-sleeping-data-framework-april-to-june-2025

 

Difficult to blame migrants for this. The UK allocates over £1 billion annually for homelessness services, alongside additional targeted grants and housing programs. This is several billion below what is spent on migrants.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/homelessness-prevention-grant-allocations-2025-to-2026

Britain should pay more attention to the homeless, that's a choice.  It isn't that the government couldn't pay more - the Tories just didn't care for 15 years and now Labour also doesn't give a toss. Does anyone really believe the government would get rid of migrants and move those billions to help the homeless?

8 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

We warned you what would happen when hundreds of thousands of immigrants come into the country without the additional housing in place to handle them.

 

Same as we warned you what would happen to the NHS with hundreds of thousands more people needing treatment. 

 

Same as we warned you about the rise in unemployment with hundreds of thousands more people in the job market. 

 

Of course, you knew better. We needed all these "doctors and engineers" to send GDP rocketing. How did that work out?

You didn’t warn me about anything.

 

You’ve simply engaged in the tired old racist scapegoating that characterizes your end of the political spectrum.

 

There was a warning that BREXIT would result in mass immigration, but you filed it under project fear.

 

8 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

We warned you what would happen when hundreds of thousands of immigrants come into the country without the additional housing in place to handle them.

 

Same as we warned you what would happen to the NHS with hundreds of thousands more people needing treatment. 

 

Same as we warned you about the rise in unemployment with hundreds of thousands more people in the job market. 

 

Of course, you knew better. We needed all these "doctors and engineers" to send GDP rocketing. How did that work out?

You didn’t warn me about anything.

 

You’ve simply engaged in the tired old racist scapegoating that characterizes your end of the political spectrum.

 

There was a warning that BREXIT would result in mass immigration, but you filed it under project fear.

 

14 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You didn’t warn me about anything.

 

You’ve simply engaged in the tired old racist scapegoating that characterizes your end of the political spectrum.

 

There was a warning that BREXIT would result in mass immigration, but you filed it under project fear.

 

 

Yes we did.

 

We warned you about the dangers of mass immigration. You didn't listen. Claimed it would save the economy and the NHS. Something about 'cultural enrichment'. Greatest strength, or whatever...

 

How did that work out? Britain has become the laughing stock of the world. A warning to others. A great example of how to ruin a country in record time. 

 

Not enough houses.

Not enough schools.

Not enough health care.

Not enough jobs.

Flatlining economy about to tank.

Record high taxes.

Record numbers on welfare.

 

Great job.