Steps You Can Take to Understand How the Cost-Of-Living Crisis is Affecting the Homeless

Everyone has been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis in some way, but those with the least have been hit the hardest.

If you’re fortunate enough to be in a financially stable position despite inflation being at a 40-year high in the UK, then you might be considering ways you can support others who are less fortunate.

While you might have a kind heart and a lovely idea, going out and trying to ‘help’ others without fully understanding their situation and what they need would only cause more harm than good.

So, you need to think of a plan on how you can do some good in your community and help those who are struggling with the current financial crisis and rapidly rising prices.

The group that always struggles the most when prices rise is those who are experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is a tragic issue that causes lifelong ramifications and can be incredibly challenging to overcome, and during a crisis, those dealing with it are often the worst hit in society.

Also, in this particular crisis, thanks to rising mortgage rates pushing rents higher and leading to struggles for homeowners as well, there is the potential for increased numbers of people to start experiencing homelessness or struggling to find a safe, secure home for themselves.

Everyone who has to cope with homelessness has a different experience, so simply throwing money at the problem isn’t a viable solution.

For those who want to help the homeless to deal with the cost-of-living crisis, the focus needs to be on understanding the challenges they face and the ways that you can make a difference.

In this article, we’re going to share some practical tips for those who want to learn about how the current financial crisis is affecting the homeless and how to provide valuable help.

Talk to Those Experiencing Homelessness

As obvious as it might seem, talking to someone who is dealing with this issue can be a simple yet effective way to learn more about how this crisis is affecting them. If you know someone who is experiencing homelessness, then you can talk to them about the issues they’re facing and discuss ways that you might be able to help in the short term.

If you don’t know anyone who is experiencing homelessness personally, then please don’t walk up to someone on the street or in a safe space and start asking personal questions. This is rude and assumes that everyone who experiences homelessness needs and wants your help. Instead, consider befriending or talking to those you see in various situations and offering help only once you get to know them.

Check Out Resources from UK Homelessness Charities

For those who don’t want to or don’t know how to talk directly to those who are experiencing homelessness, there are many charities out there conducting vital work to help. So, if you want to support those who are experiencing homelessness, you can offer money or donations or even volunteer your time through these charities.

Many of these charities, like St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, offer practical resources on how to help the homeless. Guides from organisations that provide services to those in need and who work on the frontline of the housing crisis will allow you to get a well-rounded perspective and see more about the many ways you can do to help.

Read Books and Articles by those Who Have Experienced Homelessness 

As well as resources by those who support the homeless, there are also many articles, books and other written and digital resources about homelessness created by those who actually experienced it. Writers and social commentators such as John Bird, Jack Monroe, Ed Mitchell and others have all experienced homelessness or housing insecurity and regularly write about their experiences and how they affected their lives.

Many of these writers now provide columns to newspapers or run blogs, where they discuss current events and how they are affecting those without safe housing and with financial issues. Reading articles and books by those who have experienced these challenges can help you to understand the problems that the homeless have to deal with and how you can help them. You’ll understand how to support those experiencing homelessness, both on an individual level and in terms of pushing for change in society.

What You Can Do to Help

Once you have a greater understanding of homelessness, what causes it and how the current cost-of-living crisis is affecting those who are experiencing homelessness, you can start considering ways that you can help.

While you might not have infinite resources, if you are in a financially stable situation, then you have the opportunity to support others in many different ways.

Here are some of the ways you can help those who are experiencing homelessness:

• Donate to charitable causes: Consider donating money to charities that support the homeless. There are many ways to donate to charity, including providing a lump sum or with a regular contribution.
• Talk to local homeless people: If you are confident and want to talk directly to those you see regularly who are experiencing homelessness, then you can find out more about them and how you can help. Remember that everyone is different and that those experiencing homelessness are in a scary and difficult situation, so be empathetic and only talk to them if they are willing to speak to you. If they don’t know about local support and want to find out, then you could refer them to homeless centres where they can get ongoing help by using your smartphone to search for local support providers.
• Buy The Big Issue: The Big Issue is a magazine that is sold by those experiencing homelessness and helps them to earn their own money and get access to resources to help them to succeed. The magazine also contains a lot of editorial content that discusses homelessness and is written by those who have experienced it.
• Give items to food banks: Food banks are a vital service for those experiencing homelessness and dealing with financial struggles, so giving food to them can be the perfect way to help others. Find out about the best foods to donate to food banks and consider adding them to your shopping. Many supermarkets allow you to donate near the checkout, so you can instantly give food to your local food bank.
• Volunteer at a homeless shelter: Homeless shelters provide support and care for those experiencing homelessness. If you have the time, then you could consider volunteering and helping at the shelter or at another charity that helps those experiencing homelessness.
• Push for policy changes: To make lasting changes to the UK’s housing system, consider signing petitions or sharing your opinions. Petitions to improve social housing or make changes to tenant rights can have a lasting impact and help to improve the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness or might be in the future.

By using the tips in this article, you can improve your understanding of homelessness and find ways to offer meaningful assistance to those dealing with it. It might take time and effort, but it will be worth it when you can make a change, however small it may be, to improve the lives of others in your local community and throughout the UK who are experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity.