Transitions/leaving an institution
Time spent in an institution such as care or prison can increase the risk of someone becoming homeless. There are large numbers of care leavers and ex-offenders in the homeless population and lower numbers who have spent time in the Armed Forces.
Recent data from homelessness day centres and accommodation projects across England shows that of those living in direct access hostels, on average:[1]
- 16 per cent of clients were prison leavers
- 10 per cent of clients were care leavers
- 4 per cent of clients were ex-Service personnel
The experiences that people have in an institution such as care, prison or the Armed Forces can trigger homelessness once they leave those surroundings. Likewise, an inability to cope with the adult, outside or civilian world can also lead to homelessness.
Care leavers
Crisis research shows that experience of care is common amongst homeless people, with 25 per cent having been in local authority care[2].
The lack of stability associated with being in care can mean care leavers tend to have lower levels of educational participation and attainment and higher levels of mental health problems [3]. All of this can store up problems for the future, meaning those in care might not just face problems when they are leaving care but also in late life - care leavers might also tend to have unstable career patterns tend and higher than average levels of unemployment [4]
Added to this, around two thirds of young people in care have left by the age of 18, while the average age of leaving home for all young people is 22. This means that care leavers have to attempt the transition to independence at a much younger age than other people and so might lack independent living skills.
Prison leavers
About 41 per cent of London's rough sleeper population have previously been in prison [5]. And 33 per cent of the wider single homeless people have been in prison or young offenders institutes
The links between homelessness and offending are clear:
- Around a third of prisoners were not living in permanent accommodation prior to imprisonment.
- Up to a third of prisoners lose their housing while they are in custody.
- Around a third of prisoners about to leave prison said that they had nowhere to stay [6].
When compared to the general population, prisoners are more likely to have had disturbed childhoods, problems at school, literacy problems, a family history of criminality, mental health problems, unemployment, drug and alcohol problems and a history of homelessness [7]
Ex-Service personnel
Crisis research in the mid 1990s suggested that around a quarter of the homeless population had spent timed in the Armed Forces [8]. Since then, there has been a concerted effort from Government and other organisations to tackle the problem. Now only around 3% of both rough sleepers and the wider single homeless people are British ex-service personnel [9].
There are generally four distinct "life history trajectories" or pathways into homelessness for ex-service personnel. Amongst homeless ex-service personnel there are these are those with vulnerabilities from childhood or adolescence; those who developed problems whilst in the armed forces; those who struggled to adjust to civilian life after discharge and those who only faced problems after an unrelated traumatic experience after discharge [10].
[1] Homeless Link (2011) Survey of Needs and Provision (SNAP)
[2] Crisis (2011) The hidden truth about homelessness
[3] Randall, G. & Brown S. (1999) Prevention is better than cure
[4] Randall, G. & Brown S. (1999) Prevention is better than cure
[5] Broadway (2011) Street to Home, Annual Report for London, 2010-2011
[6] Social Exclusion Unit (2002) Reducing Re-offending by Ex-prisoners
17] Social Exclusion Unit (2002) Reducing Re-Offending by Ex-Prisoners
[8] Randall, G. & Brown, S. (1994) Falling Out: A Research Study of Homeless Ex-Service People
[9]University of York (June 2008) The Experiences of Homeless Ex-Service Personnel in London
[10] University of York (June 2008) The Experiences of Homeless Ex-Service Personnel in London
