With rising debt levels and rough sleeping more visible than at any time in decades, there is a growing awareness homelessness is only a few paychecks away.
One in three people in Scotland either know someone at risk of becoming homeless – or feel at risk themselves, a new survey has revealed.
Scots renting their home appear to feel closer to crisis point, with 41% saying either they or someone they know is vulnerable to homelessness. Only 25% of homeowners north of the border felt the same way.
Worryingly, 39% of young people (16-24) surveyed felt they or a friend were in danger of becoming homeless, according to the Street Soccer Scotland study.
The organisation’s chief executive David Duke said: “It can happen to any of us. Homelessness does not discriminate. It can take just one small change in circumstances.”
It doesn’t just apply to people on the fringes of society, we’re talking about people who have jobs and mortgages who are also at risk
Duke, a former outreach manager for The Big Issue who was homeless for a period of three years, explained how quickly problems can mount up.