Homeless People Sociology

The media popularised images of what constitutes homelessness generally thought of single dirty male roaming the streets, or as an individual or family without a home has changed over the past decade. However, the numbers of homeless people are not conclusive and vary across studies and collective data. However, research from Department for Communities and Local Government (2013) estimated that there are approximately two million homeless people in United Kingdom including people residing in hostels, bed and breakfast accommodations, those in institutions including prisons and cares, staying with friends and the hidden homeless (Siddall, 1994 cited in Abel, 2008). In addition, approximately, 10 to 25% of the homeless population are women (Fitzpatrick Kemp & …show more content…
However, in 2010 there was a 10% increase in homelessness (House of Commons, 2010). However, despite the reduction in acceptances in 2004 to 2010, the number of households placed in temporary accommodation exceeded 100,000 in 2004, the numbers then began to decrease after 2005 but remained at historically high levels and began to increase in 2010 (House of Commons, 2010). A qualitative study found that 62% of homeless people placed in an emergency housing and sheltered accommodation, another 38% remained unsheltered, and of those that were sheltered 38% were women (McDonagh. 2012). However, out of the overall number of homeless women, 62% were single women. Homeless families comprise 77,157 households (including one adult and one child). Almost all single headed households are women, although there is evidence showing a steady decline in homelessness there has been a steady increase in the number of ‘families’ and single women’ experiencing homelessness. Additionally there are regional variations in the numbers of homeless; the highest being London and the West Midlands and the lowest in the Southeast.