“Our findings shatter the assumption that all anyone who is homeless needs to do is just get a job. Sky-high rents and mortgage rates combined with the rising cost of living, plus long waiting lists for council housing, mean a salary doesn’t guarantee a home.
“Most people earning the minimum wage are employed in sectors that are a vital part of the Christmas workforce that helps everyone enjoy the festive season, such as retail and leisure, food production and distribution, hospitality, and catering. It’s scandalous that hard-working people in the UK can’t even afford a place to live.”
Last week prime minister Keir Starmer spoke of “raising living standards in every part of the United Kingdom, so working people have more money in their pocket” as he set out his six milestones for the government’s time in Downing Street.
For 46-year-old Michael (not his real name) from Blackpool, work is not paying at all.
He spent five months living in a tent while doing a bar staff job and had to rely on The Salvation Army to shower, wash his clothes and to get food.
Michael said: “There is a big misconception of people thinking those who are sleeping rough are unemployed; this simply isn’t always the case. I was working, earning a living, but I just couldn’t save the money to get a place to stay. Living in a tent you feel worthless. I kept myself hidden in the deepest parts of the park. Each morning, I would get up for work and go to do my shift, leaving everything in my tent. I’ve worked all my life, and I was still working but didn’t have anywhere to go. It was tough to accept, and I had pride.
“Working with the public it was important to dress the part and be well presented. I couldn’t let anyone know where I was living so I would go to The Salvation Army to wash and they gave me toiletries to use and towels and a hot breakfast, so I was ready for my working day, and no one would have guessed where I had slept.”
The charity has urged the government to help people on low incomes keep up with housing costs by raising housing benefits in line with inflation.
While rents surged by 8.7% in the year up to October, local housing allowance rates will remain frozen in April after the government opted not to raise them.
The Salvation Army said this will leave renters with a shortfall of around £100 per month.
“With homelessness continuing to rise, the government’s planned investment in prevention and social housing is much needed. However, the decision to freeze the local housing allowance is a huge financial blow to people on low incomes and already struggling to keep a roof over their heads,” said Redmore.
“We have helped working men and women of all ages who were sleeping in cardboard boxes, tents and cars or sofa-surfing while trying to hold down a job. We pray that 2025 will be the year the government ends homelessness for good. In the meantime, we will continue to do all we can at The Salvation Army to support the most vulnerable, including those people who have no place to call home this Christmas.”
The Westminster government pledged £230m to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next year at the autumn budget while Angela Rayner chaired the first meeting of the cross-government unit on the issue last month.
Meanwhile, the Scottish government announced £4m in funding to prevent homelessness and rough sleeping as well as reversing last year’s affordable housing cuts to spend £768m on building new homes at last week’s Scottish budget.
The Big Issue is also dedicated to helping people into work. Big Issue Recruit is a specialist recruitment service, dedicated to supporting people who face barriers to joining the workforce into sustainable employment.
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