An all-time high in homelessness registrations and rough sleeper numbers has been recorded across England. In Sheffield, South Yorkshire, The Archer Project, a non-profit organisation working with rough sleepers and the homeless, has expressed grave concerns about the rise and is calling for more action.
Homelessness: a growing challenge
Government data published by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities shows that over 100,000 households across England are currently in temporary accommodation, the highest figures in two decades. In the Yorkshire and Humber region alone, the number of people sleeping rough saw the highest rise of 59% compared to other regions.
Sheffield City Council has reported a record-breaking number of homeless registrations, with over 4,000 individuals and families reaching out for help in the fiscal year 2022-23. This figure represents a sharp increase of 500 cases compared to the previous year.
In response, the government has allocated £2.4bn to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the period 2022 to 2025, aiming to provide temporary housing and support services to those affected. Sheffield City Council is set to receive more than £3mn to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
However, despite these efforts, the number of rough sleepers and families living in temporary accommodation continues to grow.
Why is homelessness on the rise?
The homelessness crisis in Sheffield, as observed in these recent figures, underscores several systemic issues that call for careful and searching analysis, combined with action. While it may be hard to pinpoint exactly what is related to the increase in homelessness and rough sleeping, there are three significant reasons why more people beset by these challenges are presenting to the local authority.
Firstly, the housing market in Sheffield is characterised by a lack of affordable housing options. Secondly, major economic difficulties, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic, constellated with the cost-of-living crisis, have dramatically exacerbated the situation.
Moreover, social services in Sheffield are under significant strain. The mental health services and addiction support crucial for addressing some of the root causes of homelessness are often underfunded and understaffed. The lack of timely and effective support can lead to individuals falling through gaps torn in the social safety net – resulting in increased instances of rough sleeping.
The Archer Project: on the frontline
Sheffield’s Archer Project, located in Sheffield Cathedral in the city centre, has been working with the homeless and rough sleepers for over 30 years. It provides a space where people who are unsheltered, homeless or have experienced homelessness can meet with different service providers.
Tim Renshaw, chief executive for The Archer Project, said: “We work in a centre in which a lot of other services come to work – GP, dental, nursing clinics, probation, mental health, and people leading life-changing programmes such as the Housing First and Changing Futures.”
The Archer Project also works with people who are on a journey back to employment and away from street homelessness or precarious housing circumstances. Renshaw said: “We work with a wide group of people, from those who are rough sleeping or in temporary accommodation, to people who do not have their own premises.”
They have a team concentrating on what the street homeless do in the daytime and how they can access services and support. They found that among the street homeless, many, understandably, do not have a regular routine, and often have issues with things like drugs and alcohol. As Renshaw explained: “Family and friends are often not able to accommodate people who are rough sleeping due to financial hardship. If you have been rough sleeping for a while, one thing you experience is the disconnection from society.”
“In Sheffield we have a rough sleeper outreach team run by Framework [a local housing association]. Every day they go out early in the morning and meet rough sleepers so they can have an idea of the number of individuals who are out there and require assistance.”
Potential solutions to rough sleeping
In terms of potential solutions, Renshaw suggests a need to go back and look at some of the historical causal factors known to contribute to street homelessness. People have complex issues that lead them to a life on the streets – ongoing trauma is one of them, and trauma is known to have a significant impact on how the brain develops in the early years of life.
Renshaw suggests a need for special funding to support children who go through a particularly hard childhood, to give them the opportunity to continue to study and to grow, instead of facing a life shaped by untreated and continuing trauma. He also suggested that one of the antidotes to trauma is consistent support from a trusted adult.
Renshaw reiterated: “People who are on the street for a long time usually have a lot of trauma, sometimes they turn to drugs and alcohol to reduce the pain of that trauma. A big thing is how people cope with ongoing childhood and life trauma. If we map a number of people who have been rough sleeping, we see the problems starting from when they were in care at a young age.”
“People struggle with education because of mental health related issues.”
He also said: “The allocation of the £3mn [government funding] was described as ‘prevention’, which is really not the case. It’s useful in helping people into accommodation, but it does not prevent people falling into situations of street homelessness in the first place.” He believes that real prevention involves supporting people much earlier on and helping them manage their crisis and trauma. The long-term solution involves investigating and implementing measures on how to prevent homelessness in the initial instance.
The role of the community
The Archer Project works with housing associations and their staff to help connect people with their services and support them into accommodation. The organisation is taking action to respond to the surge in homelessness but, as Renshaw acknowledges: “We cannot do what we do without the support of the Sheffield public, supporting us in schools and different communities.”
For those interested in becoming more involved, Renshaw suggests that becoming a volunteer, lending help to, and working with The Archer Project is a crucial factor in improving the outlook for those who are struggling to find shelter and leave the brutal challenges of homelessness in all its forms, behind. An additional way to support is by donating items such as tinned foods, coffee, sugar, cereal, second-hand clothing, toiletries, etc. The current short supply list is shown here (a new one is published each month):
- Bath/beach towels
- Washing powder
- Men’s trainers (size 8, 9 and 10)
- Men’s trousers (size 30, 32 and 34 inches)
- Men’s boxers (size S and M)
- Cereal
- Snacks (chocolate, crisps, biscuits, etc.)
- Coffee
- Pot noodles
- Sugar
People can drop off donations or send items via the Archer Project’s Amazon wishlist.
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