University of Southampton: The hidden crisis of England’s rural homelessness
Homelessness has increased in rural communities, according to a new report by the University of Southampton. The findings reveal that 88 percent of respondents feel homelessness has increased within the last year alone.
The report, published by the project Homelessness in the Countryside: a Hidden Crisis, identifies the many difficulties facing services and organisations trying to tackle homelessness in rural areas.
The results of the survey show that organisations in rural areas feel disadvantaged compared to those in urban areas, with 80 percent believing a lack of funding is the main barrier to solving the problem.
Professor Helen Carr, from the Southampton Law School and study co-author, said: “Homelessness is a consequence of inequalities and there is a lot of ignorance about inequalities in rural areas.
“Inequality is not simply an urban issue. Housing inaffordability is a particular problem in rural areas.”
The Homelessness in the Countryside: a Hidden Crisis project aims to identify the challenges facing many in rural communities in England. From lack of affordable housing, shortage of services and support, to the effects of the pandemic.
Now the project hopes to explore how the ‘cost of living’ crisis could create a ‘perfect storm’ for rural communities tackling homelessness.
Professor Carr added: “It seems to have been neglected as a research issue.
“What this study is designed to do is to give us more specific knowledge about the causes of homelessness in the countryside and the extent of the problem.”
The project is a 12-month research collaboration between the university and the University of Kent, and a rural task force made up of national rural charities and housing providers.
Martin Collet, Chief Executive of the English Rural Specialist Housing Association, said: “There’s a lot of hidden homelessness. People sleeping in cars, in sheds, in tents in woods.
“As a result, it doesn’t get picked up in official statistics.”