This summer, amid the growing cost of living crisis, Glass Door Homeless Charity launches an urgent appeal. They are asking for help from the community to raise funds to continue to provide essential support and advice to those who have, or who are at risk of losing their home, because of the crisis.
Inflation has recently exceeded 9% and the Institute of Fiscal Studies claims that the poorest households are facing an even higher rate of inflation in real terms. In the meantime, benefits rose by just 3.1% and wages have stagnated. More and more people are now having to choose between feeding themselves and their family or paying rent, while one in three people fear becoming homeless in the next five years (*Amnesty, June 2022).
What if the cost of living crisis cost you your home?
In 2021-22 over 35% of guests supported by Glass Door were at imminent risk of becoming homeless and 65% were experiencing homelessness. Glass Door expect to see this number increase as more and more people are faced with financial struggles and potential eviction. Homelessness can affect anyone at anytime. The oldest person supported by the charity last year was 88 years old.
Several factors contribute to pushing people into destitution or preventing them from moving out of homelessness. The Local Housing Allowance rates are frozen at 2020 levels, whilst rents across the UK continue to soar. In London, rents for single renters have increased by 52% since March 2020 which makes the rental market extremely competitive. Moreover, rising energy bills, the benefit cap and increasing council tax are all part of the web of issues that lead to evictions and create new barriers to those trying to move out of homelessness.
This is combined with long, complex and bureaucratic processes to access help. Those who were managing previously are being tipped closer and closer to the precipice of losing their home.
“It’s a fragile system to be in and even with our expertise it can be confusing and complicated. Becoming homeless could happen to anyone” says Gemma, senior caseworker at Glass Door.
The difference a donation can make:
£19 could provide two personalised advice sessions with a caseworker, giving someone the tailored support they need to move beyond homelessness.
£95 could provide ten specialist support sessions with an experienced caseworker to hone a CV, prepare for interviews and find employment.
£226 could fund a “move-on” package with personalised support sessions and a deposit top-up to help someone move into stable accommodation.
