London Braces for "Surge" in Homelessness

by Shannon Moriarty · 2008-12-22 20:00:00 UTC
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The United States isn't the only nation grappling with a rising homeless population. Today, the BBC warned that the new year will likely bring a "surge" in Britain's homeless.

This prediction was based on the startling results of a 2,000 person study released today. Here are the key findings:

  • Nine percent of respondents are struggling to keep up with rent or mortgage payments.

  • 32.4 percent said they would lose their home within three months of losing their main income.

  • 28 percent of people in the lower-income group and 21 percent of those in higher-income groups worry they could lose their home due to the economic crisis.

Given the interconnectivity of our global economy, and the significant rise in homelessness we have seen domestically, this report does not come as a major surprise. Still, it is troubling that this trend is not confined to the American borders. According to the director of Crisis, one of the major homeless service organizations in London:

The economic downturn is hitting the poorest the hardest. Many are struggling to keep their homes. The situation is only made worse by pressure on jobs, with unemployment levels set to reach two million by the end of the year.

Our fear is that as the recession bites in the New Year we are going to see more people in the same situation as those relying on our Christmas centres today, whilst those already at the bottom of the pile are going to be further away from the help and support they need to put their lives back together.

Since stateside charities have been working furiously to keep up with our growing homeless population, there hasn't been a whole lot of time to stop and look ahead to the new year. What will homelessness in America look like in 2009? More on this to come, but I'm interested in your thoughts...

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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