The most recent studies suggest that over 200,000 households across England are experiencing the worst forms of homelessness (Crisis UK), with many more undocumented and experiencing homelessness out of sight, in hostels, squats or B&B’s, making up the ‘hidden homeless’. This highlights a key problem in the lack of accurate data which limits tackling homelessness, there is no unified figure across the UK and many debates over how it is measured. 

Regardless of the exact number, people without a permanent home face serious challenges and a greater need for support. The average age of death for people experiencing homelessness is 46 for men and 42 for women. People sleeping on the street are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence and are 9 times more likely to commit suicide (Crisis UK). There were estimated 741 deaths of homeless people last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which further highlights the gravity of the situation and that more must be done.  

Both causes of homelessness and barriers restricting people without a home must be addressed. Lack of affordable housing, unemployment and domestic violence are all key contributors to homelessness and whilst the government did provide support in the Homelessness Prevention Grant which provided £316m to at-risk households, it falls short in substantial measures addressing homelessness’s wider problems.  These wider problems are addressed in the government's Ending Rough Sleeping For Good policy which will be explored how effective the proposals will tackle homelessness. 

This conference will explore how organisations can work together to both prevent homelessness but also to provide care and support to those most in need. It will seek to understand how to reduce the number of people who are sleeping rough and reduce the flow of new people onto the streets, through a number of case studies of local partnerships, between both public and private sectors in helping to alleviate this challenge. Not only does homelessness has a terrible impact on the person's physical and mental health but also impacts the wider community.