News

Hidden Homelessness in the UK

Homelessness in the UK 2020

Sutton Night Watch know there are many reasons why someone may become homeless. However, essentially, these are regular folk who fell on hard times and lost their basic foundation of being human – their home.

We also know, there are many different types of homelessness. Sleeping on the streets is possibly the main one you think of when you hear the word “Homeless” but there is such a thing as the ‘hidden homeless’.

According to Streets of London, a homeless organisation, 7,500 people will find themselves sleeping rough in Greater London alone this year.

Homelessness is a UK wide issue but Greater London is one of the cities most affected & even though the figure of 7,500 is huge, it is just the tip of a very big iceberg, as more than 400,000 people in Greater London are believed to be part of the “hidden homeless”.

Hidden homelessness involves people who are sofa-surfing, living in temporary accommodation, living with extended family/friends as they cant afford their own homes or those who live in hostels. Many of which are short-term & have strict times in place for people to be out of them during the days..

What can we do?

Sutton Night Watch believe everyone should have a place to go to for support if they find themselves in this situation, we know that the first step to solving homelessness is acknowledging that its victims are real people & that this issue affect individuals & communities. We believe everyone should have a place to go to for support if they find themselves in this situation & we want to work together with the people & businesses to achieve positive futures for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

To achieve this ambition, we need to be able to:

1.    Offer practical assistance (food, clothes etc)
2.    Ensure if a person does become homeless, it’s for the shortest time possible by offering access to housing services.
3.    Provide those with complex problems the opportunity to interact with specialist services by signposting users correctly.
4.    Support people to realise their potential & avoid becoming homeless again by providing basic education & support services to those who need it.

This is why our #55Appeal is so very important going into 2020.

What can YOU do?

Please click this link – www.SuttonNightWatch.com/55-Appeal  & donate whatever you can – Remember every £5 that comes to the Sutton Night Watch #55Appeal goes directly to support the homeless.