As well as the personal and structural risk factors, we now understand the main routes into homelessness. Specific events can precipitate homelessness.
These ‘triggers’ include:
Figures for households accepted as homeless by local authorities show that:
| Reason for homelessness | |
|---|---|
| Relatives/friends no longer able/willing to accommodate | 37% |
| Relationship breakdown | 20% |
| End of assured shorthold tenancy | 14% |
| Mortgage/Rent arrears | 5% |
| Loss of other rented/tied housing | 5% |
| Other | 19% |
Many people are not just homeless. There are other complications in their lives that make them more vulnerable. Often these problems are mutually reinforcing and people end up in a downward spiral. Unless they get help at the right time this can leave someone sleeping rough.
It is said that someone who starts sleeping rough, maybe with no serious problems at the outset, has two weeks before they start acquiring the characteristics of a long term rough sleeper.
"I’ve been through it all. I was a researcher, with a stable job, a nice home, everything. Then I started getting stressed out, drinking too much and got depressed. I could see it all slipping away but was too ashamed to ask for help.
"I lost my home and ended up sleeping in my car, until that was towed away. I remember one evening standing on London Bridge, with all the office workers walking past heading home, not knowing what to do. That’s a hard feeling to describe. It took two weeks before someone sent me to the day centre. The wonderful people there have helped me get my life together. Now I want to help others going through what I went through. Believe me, if it can happen to me it can happen to anyone."