When most people think of homelessness, they picture people sleeping rough. That’s understandable - it’s the most visible form of homelessness, but definitely not the most common. There are forms of homelessness so hidden, that even people experiencing them don’t necessarily realise that they fall under ‘homelessness’.
What is ‘hidden homelessness’?
When we talk about hidden homelessness, we’re referring to anyone who doesn’t have a permanent or suitable home but isn’t sleeping rough either. They might be staying with friends, living in emergency accommodation, or staying somewhere that’s not fit for purpose.
In the last survey of its kind in 2011, Crisis found that 62% of homeless people were experiencing a form of hidden homelessness at that moment, and 92% had experienced one in the past. Those numbers are likely even higher now as some forms of hidden homelessness, like staying in temporary accommodation, have risen by as much as 89% in the last 10 years.
As the name suggests, it’s harder to spot people who are facing hidden homelessness, and so it’s harder for outreach teams or even loved ones to reach out and offer support. Here we’ll take a look at some of the most common forms of hidden homelessness, which might help you spot it if either you or someone you know is in a similar situation.
What are the types of hidden homelessness?
Sofa surfing
Sofa surfing means staying with friends, family (or sometimes strangers) on a temporary basis while having nowhere permanent to live. People sofa surfing usually stay in each place for a short period of time before moving on to the next. Often they’ll have to sleep on people’s sofas - hence the name. Between 2019 and 2021, 538,000 households had someone staying with them who would have otherwise had nowhere to live.
Sofa surfing might seem less problematic than sleeping on the streets as it offers more shelter, comfort and safety. But it still usually means living somewhere with little (if any) privacy and personal space, which can have a long-term impact on both mental and physical health. Plus, some people who sofa surf find themselves forced to stay with people they don’t know well or at all, which comes with a risk of abuse and exploitation.
Overcrowding
Overcrowding is when the number of people staying at an address is more than its capacity. This usually means several people sharing a single room, or people sleeping in living or dining areas. More than 3.5 million people in England live in overcrowded homes and minority ethnic background households are 3 times as likely to be affected by overcrowding compared to white households.
More than 310,000 children in England are forced to share beds with other family members, affecting their quality of life, mental and physical health, and education, with a lack of personal space and areas to complete school work.
While overcrowding is a recognised form of homelessness, it’s often sadly treated with less concern and urgency from authorities.
Temporary accommodation
113,000 households are currently living in temporary accommodation, an increase of over 12% from the same time last year. Households are often placed in ‘temporary accommodation’ by local authorities while they wait for permanent housing to become available. The form of accommodation can include small spaces like hotels and B&Bs not meant to be long-term dwellings.
While they’re supposed to be ‘temporary’, people can find themselves staying in these forms of accommodation for months or even years. The most common length of time for families with children to stay in temporary accommodation is between 2 and 5 years.
As with most forms of hidden homelessness, temporary accommodation can often come with overcrowding and a lack of personal space. Plus, being placed in temporary accommodation can sometimes mean being housed far away from family, friends, school and work, adding to the impact on mental health.
What can you do to help?
Often, people facing the challenges of hidden homelessness will try to act like everything’s normal, and avoid talking about what they’re going through because they’re worried about the stigma that can come with their situation. Read our advice on what to do if you suspect someone you know is facing homelessness here.
You can also help Simon on the Streets to raise awareness and funds to support people facing any form of homelessness by:
- Joining Simon’s Big Sleep Out in October
- Fundraising or donating
- Becoming a corporate partner
We hugely appreciate any support you can give.