This Christmas, over 119,500 children are facing homelessness in the UK.
It’s a heartbreaking statistic, and one that’s very likely going to rise. With thousands of people on the brink of poverty and no sign of the cost of living crisis coming to an end, homelessness is a reality that so many more families will face this winter and beyond.
There’s no doubt about it, homelessness is a horrendous situation for anyone to be in at any time of the year. But for children at Christmastime, it can be incredibly tough.
Here we’re taking a look at some of the many challenges that homelessness can bring for children during the festive season.
Loneliness
For anyone facing homelessness, loneliness is a big obstacle to overcome. And for children, it can be crippling. At Christmas, countless children are reminded of how unsupported they are, resulting in stronger feelings of isolation and sadness. Often moved between a number of different locations, or even placed into the care system, many children find themselves with a lack of friends and connections, and no familiar environment in which to take comfort.
For many children, there’s also a huge sense of responsibility as they try to support the family they have around them through their own struggles, whether mental, financial, or both. That’s a big burden to bear for young people.
Mental health
Loneliness can negatively impact a child’s mental health. In fact, the experience can result in significant emotional trauma that will affect them for the rest of their lives and undermines their ability and willingness to participate in school.
For young people, Christmas can also be a painful reminder of the past. Many have experienced difficult childhoods where Christmas was a time of anxiety, sadness and distress. Without support and sustained change, this will continue to be the most vicious of cycles.
Family breakdown
Whilst for a lot of people Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year, for others, it’s not. For many, Christmas can be a time of heightened stress and tension, whether facing homelessness or not, and it can push families who are already struggling, over the edge.
Alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, financial pressure - these are just a few of the issues that lead to an increase in family breakdowns, which in turn is still one of the leading causes of homelessness. In a survey, homeless charity Homeless Link found that a shocking 49% of young people become homeless due to a family breakdown.
Children can easily recognise instability, whether it’s emotional or financial. When they fear for the family unit, it’s an even bigger burden, particularly if they’re already worried about the prospect of becoming homeless.
No presents
Whilst we’re well aware that Christmas isn’t all about presents, it’s difficult to accept that there’ll be so many children waking up to no presents on Christmas Day. It’s a stark and tangible reminder of the reality of their situation, and it’s devastating. For them, it’s another day in poverty, when so many of their peers are celebrating.
With no stable place to call home, no presents, and sometimes no family, Christmas day is going to be an incredibly bleak and isolating time for those children facing homelessness.
One of the worst things about this situation is the fact that we simply don’t know the true extent of the problem. With so many children falling through the cracks and becoming part of the hidden homeless and unsupported, it’s a very worrying situation, and one which must be tackled if we’re going to make a difference to future generations.
Thanks to your support, we can continue to provide support to those facing homelessness all year round, not just at Christmas. Take a look at how you can get involved.