Homelessness occurs in many different forms. From sofa-surfing and temporary accommodation to sleeping rough, there are many ways in which a person can experience homelessness, and each person dealing with it has their own unique journey and story to tell.
With homelessness on the rise and the cost of living crisis continuing to affect families and individuals across the UK, more people than ever are at risk of homelessness. It doesn’t discriminate. So what do you do if you suspect that someone you know is facing homelessness? How can you spot the signs and offer help and support in the right way? Let’s take a look.
How to spot the signs of homelessness
There are so many damaging assumptions and stereotypes surrounding homelessness and those experiencing it. For most people, it’s not something that happens overnight, and there are usually a number of different risk factors and events at play.
With that in mind, it’s good to have an idea of some things to look out for that may mean someone needs help.
Poor time-keeping
Contrary to popular belief, many people experiencing homelessness are employed. For most of us, the thought of trying to hold down steady employment without a stable place to live is unthinkable, and it does come with many challenges - you can more about that here.
Working or not, when you’re facing homelessness, meeting deadlines, turning up on time, and just generally staying on top of a schedule, is very difficult indeed.
Struggling with organisation
Whilst we can all feel a little chaotic at times, for someone without a stable home, keeping all of their documents, possessions, work equipment, and anything else they might need in one place is difficult. Add to this the fact that for many of those staying in temporary accommodation,
personal possessions may be at a higher risk of theft, as keeping them safe and secure is harder.
This can also be a crippling problem for children and young adults who are in school and education, and it’s a problem that many teachers in the UK are faced with.
General health and outlook
Homelessness is a trauma and one that takes its toll both physically and mentally.
Whilst not behaviours in themselves indicative of homelessness, if someone appears highly stressed, full of anxiety, or is struggling to engage with others around them in a meaningful way, this could be a sign that support is needed. Also, look out for somebody who is becoming isolated and withdrawn.
Bear in mind also that someone with nowhere to call home may struggle to maintain personal hygiene and find clean clothes. It’s tough to shower and wash your things when you don’t have the basics.
How you can help?
If you suspect that someone is struggling to manage as a result of homelessness, it’s not an easy thing to deal with. Remember that they might be reluctant to discuss their situation with you, especially if they’re a work colleague or you don’t know them all that well. They may well be worried that they’ll be ‘found out’ and treated differently as a result.
Given the fact that 40% of employers admit that they’d seek to terminate someone’s employment if they found out they were homeless, the desire to stay hidden isn’t so hard to understand.
In order to provide support, you might consider:
- Listening for hints that someone needs help and offering what you can when this happens.
- Having open-ended and general conversations gives someone the option to open up to you if they feel comfortable.
- Ensuring that anyone you’re worried about is acknowledged - say hello and ask how things are.
Of course, not everyone will feel comfortable approaching the issue, and that’s fine, too. Remember, there are lots of organisations you can turn to for help and advice if you find yourself in this situation, Simon on the Streets included.
If you need help and advice about someone you know who is experiencing homelessness, don’t hesitate to get in touch. And if you’d like to support our work supporting those facing or at risk of homelessness in Leeds and Bradford, take a look at the various ways to give.