One-third of homeless sofa-surfing forced to do so for over six months
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Version 0 of 1. Crisis reports 71,400 cases of sofa-surfers across UK, making it the largest form of homelessness A third of homeless people who are sofa-surfing in the UK have been doing so for more than six months, according to research from Crisis. Figures from the charity estimate there are 71,400 sofa-surfers across the country – making it the largest form of homelessness. The analysis comes amid a deepening national crisis, with the number of households considered newly homeless or at risk of becoming so rising by 11.4% across England in the past year alone, according to government data. Housing affordability – including people’s benefits not covering the cost of rent – was raised by many of the 114 sofa-surfers Crisis interviewed across the country as part of its research. Eight out of 10 respondents said their mental health had suffered as a result of the insecurity of their living situation, with many feeling like a burden on their host, while 77% said they were experiencing problems with physical health, including extreme back and neck pain and chronic fatigue. More than half of those who were interviewed were under 35, which is disproportionate compared with the demographics of other forms of homelessness, including rough sleeping. Danielle, a 28-year-old from Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, said she had been forced to sofa-surf to escape an abusive ex-partner. After leaving the home they shared together, she was told by her local authority that she did not meet the criteria for emergency accommodation because she had made herself “intentionally homeless”. “I had no family nearby who I could stay with. One friend let me stay on her bedroom floor for a few weeks while I began to go through the court system to try and get off the tenancy I shared with my ex-partner,” said Danielle. “Another friend then said I could stay on his sofa, but it was only a one bed flat, and it was massively overcrowded. It was really difficult – even things like getting dressed in private was impossible.” She added: “I was just constantly crying and angry. Having to stay like this ruined our friendship for a while.” Despite the precarious nature of sofa-surfing, it is often not a temporary situation – 33% of those who were interviewed said they had been in such a living situation for between six months and three years. Jon Sparkes, the chief executive of Crisis, said: “This research acts as a shameful reminder to the new government that tackling homelessness must be treated as a top priority in the coming months to ensure more people are not forced into this situation. We know homelessness can be ended in the UK – but this will only be made a reality by investing in housing benefit, so it truly covers the cost of rents across the country, and making sure local councils recognise sofa-surfing as a form of homelessness that is eligible for assistance across the board.” A recent report from Shelter found that 280,000 people would be rough sleeping or in temporary housing and hostels in England on Christmas Day. |