Growing number of working homeless

Take a moment to consider what the term 'working homeless" means in the context of Britain in 2018. These are people with a job, often full-time but on well below median earnings. According to a new report from the housing charity and pressure group Shelter, more than half of homeless families across England are in work but soaring rent and a lack of social housing are pushing them into temporary accommodation, often wholly unsuitable for families with young children. In-work poverty and working homelessness are issues rising towards the top of the policy agenda in a labour market with employment at record highs and (recorded) unemployment nudging down towards 4 per cent of the labour force.

Here are some links to the issue of the causes and impact of growing working homelessness.

There are now about 33,000 “working homeless” – or 55% of all households in temporary accommodation – compared with 19,000 in 2013

Guardian: Shelter warns of leap in working homeless as families struggle

BBC: More than half of homeless families in work, says Shelter

The Big Issue: Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches’ uncovers the hidden reality of the working homeless