the forgotten homeless

8/6/2019 The Forgotten Homeless

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THE FORGOTTEN HOMELESS- THE SQUATTER-HoMELESS -

An Interim Report ByThe Homeless Occupiers Coalition

Not everyone realises that the problem of homelessness affectsmany more people than those living on the street.OfLondon' s 130,000 homeless, one-thirdare the overtly homeless- the street-homeless, the hostel-homeless and those in bed andbreakfast. Around two-fifths are the hidden homeless (thosewithout a secure tenancy). The remaining one-fifth are theforgotten homeless: the squatter-homeless.These last two groups (i.e. over 80 thousand people in London)are threatened with their homelessness being treated as a crime.Proposed new legislation dealing with the squatter-homeless isshortly to be introduced in Parliament.

612 Old Kent RoadLondon SE15 1JBTel: 071-2777639Fax: 071-732 7644 October 1992


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f.n&land .tatUlka:500..00 homelnl taken fraln1992 Drpt. of Environmml rrport

SQUATTERHOMELESS23%

London .Ialillin:130,00 homeieu coming to1990 SuITe)' University reportThe ~ I i o n of London Aulhorillf1l

expect 188.000 horneLeN

IINOLl!,....

Source: H o m e ~ o.xupie .. Projt(turvey ApriLOec:ember 19111).

NATIONALAs the pie chart shows across the country the Squatter-Homeless make up a very large percentage of thetotal homeless in England.What would happen i f the Squatter-Homeless arecrirrcUoalise


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12"11 - 1 '

Source: M .bov! (prevlolll pllge).

AGEMost advice agencies are reporting an increase in theaverage age of the squatter-homeless.The wider picture of squatting is changing in thatmore and more people from different economic andsocial backgrounds have :10 alternative but to becomethe squatter-homeless.Increasingly people not usually thought of as squatters, namely many older people, divorcees, thosemade redundant and those with financial problemswith mortgage arrears, find it's their only solution.

LAW MORE COMPLICATEDIt may be very difficult for the police in future to sort out landlord-occupierdisputes on the doorstep.It is estimated that 20% of "tenants" are unauthorised occupants i.e. lodgersor licensees. Their legal status varies from case to case thus putting thepolice in the impossible position of deciding on the spot fine points of thelaw.Source: South London PrefS U U ~ 1992)

"problem" is not as clear cut asin the government's consultation

of October 1991.has been shown in the above, all thesquatting are very

type of people that make up thegroup are now , and will

ain, homeless,effect of criminalising will also endangerof the hidden

(e.g. unauthorised occupants), and there will belittle alternative but for the 50,000 squatterhomeless to end up living on the street."Some homeless people live in cars, tents, card-board boxes, under bridges or in shop doorways, others sq'uat , . . . The real need is forofficial recognition that people squat becauseth ey are homeless",'", Shelter (rnponse to Home Office Consulta.tion Piper on "Squa.tting").


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Case HistoriesSUSHIESushie is a 30 year old single parent whowas made homeless a year ago when herthree year old daughter aCcidentally set fireto their privately rented flat with a match.All their possessions were destroyed andtheir deposit forfeited. Sushie no longer hadenough money to afford a new deposit andshe asked Lambeth Council to re-house her.The council refused to accept her as beingin priority need saying that she madeherself intentionally homeless.That evening a couple heard Sushie talkingover her difficulties with a friend and of-fered to give her the keys to the HousingAssociation flat that they had just movedfrom.Sushie and her daughter are now beingtaken to court on the 3rd of July 1992 forbeing squatters.

BRENDABrenda is single, 28 years old andunemployed. She became homeless 2 yearsago. She had rented a small flat for 8 yearsbut was evicted when her landlord diedand and the house was repossessed by thefinance company.Brenda moved in with a friend's family intheir 2 bedroomed HOUSing Association flat.She continued sleeping on the sofa in thefront room until they discovered thatanother flat in the block had beenun-tenanted for 5 months.The flat was in a dreadful condition. Brendaset to work cleaning and re-decorating. Shecontacted the Housing Association's localHousing Officer and offered to pay rent.

COLINColin is single 30 year old unemployedLondoner. He became homeless when hewas 18 being unable to afford the depositrequired for privately rentedaccommodation. At that time he added hisname to the council housing list.Colin started living on the street. He spentsome time in a hostel, being placed there bythe D.SS. who refused to pay him incomesupport while he was of no fixed abode.However as the hostel was unable toaccommodate him long term he turned i'squatting as the only alternative to begglhgand street homelessness.After his last eviction he moved into acouncil owned house that had been leftderelict. The roof is holed and there isconsiderable water damage and as a resultthere is no electricity.Colin has been there for a month.

SUBhieBrenda

Col In

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