Raising awareness and support for HandsOn London
The cost of living crisis in the UK has intensified the difficulties faced by homeless people, pushing more individuals into homelessness and making it harder for them to regain control of their lives in all aspects. The situation calls for increased support from the government, charities, and society to address these growing challenges and here at Recycled Clothing Banks, we are doing our bit and already planning ahead to help keep our homeless warm this winter.
The cost of living crisis is causing an increased level of homelessness for a number of reasons and here are just a few to consider:
Rising rents, costs and evictions: The surge in rental prices has made it even harder for low-income individuals to afford housing. As wages fail to keep pace with inflation, more people are at risk of losing their homes and this is particularly true for those already on the brink of homelessness. With the end of eviction bans and landlords raising rents to keep up with mortgage costs, more tenants are being evicted adding to the number of people becoming homeless.
Struggle to access vital services: Homeless shelters and charities are seeing a rise in demand, but many are struggling with funding cuts and higher operational costs. This makes it harder for them to provide essential services like food, shelter, and support.
Lack of social housing: This means longer waiting lists for those in need, leaving many homeless people stuck in temporary, inadequate accommodation or worse still, on the streets.
Rise in living costs: The increased cost of food has hit homeless people particularly hard. Those relying on food banks or soup kitchens are finding it increasingly difficult to access nutritious meals as donations decrease, prices rise resulting in a shortage of food.
Rise in energy costs: For homeless individuals who have been placed in some form of accommodation, may be exposed to potential health issues if landlords cannot afford to heat their homes adequately.
Worsening health issues: The stress of financial insecurity and homelessness is contributing to a rise in mental health issues amongst homeless people. Additionally, the inability to afford basic necessities, like food and shelter, exacerbates physical health problems. There is already reduced access to healthcare for our homeless community with people facing barriers to accessing vital healthcare services as a result of the strain on the NHS.
Vulnerability: As the financial strain increases, homeless people may become more vulnerable to exploitation, including forced labour, crime, and abuse, as they seek ways to survive. This opens the way to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, further entrenching homelessness and making it harder for individuals to escape the cycle.
Barriers to employment: The rising cost of transportation, food, and clothing and lack of a fixed address can make it more difficult for homeless people to find and maintain employment, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Since August 2018, we have been working with and supporting HandsOn London delivering generous donations of new underwear, toiletries and much-needed sleeping bags to help London’s homeless community. We have been instrumental in collecting and delivering clothing donations from supporters which we then deliver all across the country to the people who need them most.
Every year, with worsening economic situations affecting our homeless, we still need your help. If you have unwanted warm clothes in your wardrobe at home, or cosy sleeping bags, you can put them to better use by donating them to us.
If you would like to help our homeless community this year, please contact us today and find out how you can make a significant difference to the lives of people living on the streets. enquiries@recycledclothingbanks.co.uk