1 in 4 homeless people will spend this Christmas alone

As Crisis opens its Christmas centres to an expected 4,000 homeless guests, new research by the charity reveals how one in four homeless people in the UK will spend this Christmas alone, while more than six out of ten will spend it with neither family nor friends.

Drawing on a survey of more than 500 people in homeless day centres across the country, the report reveals the extent of loneliness and isolation amongst homeless people, the stigma they experience and the heavy toll it takes on their mental and physical health.

It shows how six out of ten homeless people suffer from loneliness, making them some of the most isolated people in our society. One in three has no contact with family, while less than one in four can call on a friend in an emergency.

The report also looks at the impact of loneliness on people’s lives. It shows how homeless people often or sometimes feel ashamed or invisible to others (reported by 70%), leading nearly half to feel like they don’t deserve to be helped. Crucially, these experiences make it even harder for people to rebuild their lives: more than half said they found it harder to seek help, while seven out of ten found it harder to secure or maintain a job. In the worst cases, people had even considered or attempted suicide.

As Crisis opens Christmas centres across London, Edinburgh, Coventry, Birmingham and Newcastle (see notes for media opportunities), the charity is calling for action to make sure nobody has to face homelessness in the first place.

Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive of Crisis, said: “Christmas should be a time for family and friends, for warmth and celebration, yet for homeless people it can be one of the hardest periods of the year - a cold, lonely experience to be endured rather than enjoyed. That’s what makes our work at Christmas so important.

“Yet loneliness isn’t just a problem at Christmas. Homelessness is a desperate, isolating experience that destroys people’s confidence and self-esteem and makes it even harder for them to get help. We already know that homeless people are over nine times more likely to commit suicide, and there can be little doubt that loneliness plays a major part in that tragedy.

“That’s why we also run year-round services to help homeless people rebuild their confidence and self-esteem. Yet it would be far better if nobody ever had to be homeless in the first place. Sadly, homeless people who go to their councils for help are often turned away with little or nothing at all. That’s why we urgently need a change in the law so that everyone can get the help they need, and we urge the public to back our campaign.”

The charity’s Christmas centres are run by an army of more than 10,000 volunteers. As well as warmth, companionship and three hot meals a day, guests receive healthcare and specialist advice on housing, work and benefits and are encouraged to take up the life-changing opportunities on offer at Crisis in centres across the country in the New Year ahead.

Jon Sparkes continued: “Every year, Crisis opens its doors to thousands of homeless people, offering warmth, shelter, food and companionship, as well as access to vital services.

“None of this would be possible without the generosity and compassion of thousands of individuals, organisations and companies, who give their time, funds and goods to make Christmas happen for some of society’s most vulnerable people.”

Research findings 

Crisis spoke to more than 500 people in homeless day centres in 14 locations across the UK. The findings show: 

• More than one in four spent last Christmas alone
• 9% of homeless people spent last Christmas with neither family nor friends
• Two thirds expect to spend this Christmas with neither family nor friends (66.8%)
• One in three have no contact with family and a similar number only have contact with friends once a twice a month or less.
• 27% reported forming an unwanted sexual relationship in order to keep a roof over their head
• 44% feel they don’t deserve help
• 71% said they were ashamed of being homeless.
• Seven out of ten said they often or sometimes feel invisible to others
• Two thirds report being treated differently since becoming homeless
• Seven out of ten feel treated as if they are to blame for their homelessness
• 64% said relationships with family and friends had deteriorated since becoming homeless

 QUOTES

“I feel lonely because I don’t have my children with me…I get upset and I cry, just keep myself to myself and don’t talk at all.” Lorraine

“Everyone is with their families and all the shops are shut…and it’s quite lonely if you’re just sitting alone, and that can bring on depression and ‘oh what’s the point’ and everybody else is happy and I’m just sitting here…” Fiona

“At Christmas time, they [others] are preparing the table and enjoying the Christmas moment…[it makes me feel] I want a family.” Kris

“It was horrible, the worst time I’ve ever had…cos I was all on my own…when I was sleeping rough…you feel so lonely its crap, you don’t want to wake up in the mornings cos you don’t want to spend another day on your own.” Sarah

“Depressed, it gets me really down…I think of my children and if I feel like I’m gonna blubber I go somewhere to be alone…happens at least three or four times a month, sometimes more.” Ronnie

“it’s horrible…I’m lonely all the time, I want a partner and it can’t happen with the position I’m in, I can’t have a partner when I’m on the streets.” Kris

“Sometimes on the streets, when it’s cold, you go into deep mode thinking like you get a flashback of the past; and I was on the verge of actually slitting my wrists and I thought come on now this ain’t me…its cos I had a flashback and I missed my mum – thinking I’d rather be with her than this…” Andrew

“You do get lonely, it is hard, you do wish like there would be someone to be there just to talk to me, even for five minutes…” Paul

“I haven’t seen them [children] for two years due to my divorce, since then – my life has been rock bottom. I’ve tried to get back into society, but when you’re homeless people look down on you…in general…can’t trust you…it’s hard.” Illyas

“People used to look down on ya, and say words and their words would really harm me.” Joseph

“I feel degraded and self-harming, I did used to do self-harming, very depressed.” Lorraine

“When you’re homeless, you don’t feel good about yourself because you don’t have a roof over your head, you can’t do the general things like wash and things, that’s what I mean by isolated…you just withdraw.” Michael

“When I lay asleep on there I just think to myself ‘is this ever gonna change? Am I ever gonna find somewhere?’ I’ve had two heart attacks since I’ve been on the streets! You do get lonely sometimes, and yeah I do cry sometimes…am I ever gonna get anywhere that’s gonna be warm, and have clothes…?” Thomas

ENDS

For further information call 020 7426 3853 or email thomas.phillips@crisis.org.uk. For out of hours media enquiries please call: 07973 372587

Notes to editors
 

1. Broadcasters, journalists and photographers are invited to meet homeless guests, volunteers and Crisis spokespeople at the opening of Crisis at Christmas 2015, from 7am on WEDNESDAY 23 DECEMBER.
2. Over the course of September 2015, researchers conducted 506 surveys with individuals using 16 homelessness services across 14 locations in the UK, as well as 20 in-depth interviews.
   
   Surveys measured loneliness using various recognised scales. Interviews provided an opportunity to hear in-depth accounts of loneliness in the individual’s own words.
3. Crisis’s No One turned Away campaign is calling for a change in the law so that all homeless people can get the help they from their councils.
   crisis.org.uk/NoOneTurnedAway