Crisis publishes new research that tracks changing needs of people facing homelessness over first six months of coronavirus pandemic

Findings include that, while recorded increase in homelessness during the first wave of the pandemic was largely driven by people already experiencing homelessness becoming more visible, increases in the second wave were more often newly homeless people

Crisis has published new research that tracks the changing needs of people facing homelessness over the first six months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Based on survey responses from frontline voluntary sector organisations and in-depth interviews with local authorities across Great Britain, Crisis reports that, between March and September 2020, all three nations experienced a continued new flow of people experiencing homelessness, with increases during the first few months of the pandemic being driven by those already experiencing homelessness - people who were sofa surfing and living in dangerous or transient accommodation – who became more visible as their living situations forced them to access help.

However, as the second wave approached, Crisis highlights that there were bigger increases as a result of people who were experiencing homelessness for the first time, including people who have been furloughed and those who have become newly unemployed.

In addition, Crisis highlights that, while there was recognition of the positive effect that government policies have had on levels of homelessness during the pandemic - particularly the pause in evictions and the temporary uplift in local housing allowance - there were concerns about the temporary nature of the changes and the impact they may have on homelessness in the future.

While also acknowledging that the homelessness response to the pandemic has seen 'extraordinary action' taken to get people into safe accommodation, and that this has clearly saved lives, Crisis says that it has identified differences across the three nations in relation to their ability to fund a homelessness response in the immediate future - 

• in England, local authorities and voluntary sector organisations said that they are concerned about the sustainability of funding emergency accommodation over the winter period - in many areas they have already overspent and, even with additional funding announcements from the government, are not clear if they can continue the procurement of temporary accommodation at the pace needed;
• in Wales, while there was less concern than in England about whether the initial funding was sufficient to cover the costs of providing emergency accommodation, there are growing anxieties around funding for their phase 2 planning and making sure they are able to move people through from emergency accommodation; and 
• in Scotland, there is significantly less concern specifically around homelessness spend and it was felt that they have mostly been able to access the emergency monies that they've needed.

Highlighting that, even prior to the pandemic, billions of pounds was being spent on temporary accommodation, Crisis says that the gaps identified by its research in the current, varied solutions to address homelessness mean that action is needed to 'achieve a shared goal where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurrent'. To this end, Crisis sets out three principles that, it says, must be in place -

• since homelessness can result in an urgent need for accommodation, safe emergency provision needs to be accessible for all (which must be safe, clean and ensure people are treated with dignity);
• homelessness should be ended through a rapid rehousing approach, moving people swiftly into permanent affordable housing with person-centred support to meet their needs (including Housing First for all those who need it); and
• prevention measures need to be embedded to stop people experiencing homelessness in the first place, with the welfare system and public bodies all playing a role.

For more information, see The impact of COVID-19 on people facing homelessness and service provision across Great Britain (2020) from crisis.org.uk