Factors of Homelessness in 2025; Our Perspective

Homelessness remains one of the most pressing social issues in the UK, with an estimated 354,000 people either homeless or at risk of homelessness as of December 2024. Despite public awareness campaigns and national calls to action, the number of those who find themselves to be homeless continues to rise. A more complex situation than it appears on the surface, we wanted to explore and address some of the many factors that contribute to the growing national homelessness crisis:

Mental Health Struggles and Lack of Support: Many individuals experiencing homelessness may struggle with mental health issues or substance abuse, which can make it difficult to access stable housing and employment. The mental health crisis is an ever-growing issue that remains hidden due to many feeling unable to reach out or not being able to access support, leading to individuals struggling without help.

Family Breakdowns and Domestic Abuse: A significant portion of those who become homeless can do so as a result of family breakdowns or fleeing domestic abuse. Often left with nowhere else to turn, emergency accommodation may be the only option. Women, particularly, are affected by this.

Continual Cost of Living Crisis: Ongoing economic pressures continue to strain families, and many people who were once able to save money for emergencies are now losing the safety net they had, finding themselves unable to secure or maintain stable housing.

Social Care Cuts: The reduction in funding for social care and housing benefit over the past few years has further exacerbated the problems people have been experiencing for a long time, leaving many without vital support and backstop that they may have once had.

Affordable Housing Shortage: The lack of affordable housing in much of the UK is a key driver of people being at risk of homelessness. A surge in house prices and rents on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, combined with stagnant wages, has led to increased housing insecurity for many.

These factors although not an exhaustive list show some of the many hidden factors that can impact the lives of people that may use or rely on our services. Our experience shows that homelessness is not simply an issue of finances or employment, but that there are also people at risk of homelessness because of many other factors often not thought of, like mental health and domestic abuse. In the UK reducing homelessness remains a serious challenge; with the scale of the crisis still so large, it will take a lot off time and work to turn the tides on a national scale.

Making a difference in Lincolnshire

With the perspective of the national situation, here at YMCA Lincolnshire we are trying to tackle the issues and make a positive difference to those around us in our county.

We know that the needs of every beneficiary and every resident is different. There are countless reasons why someone might need our help and a vast array of needs and challenges to overcome as we help them on their journey to independence. We do however find some common areas that many residents will need our help with:

Physical Health

Without regular or reliable access to healthcare, residents may need immediate care for health issues on arrival, not just related to sleeping rough, but possibly longstanding pre-existing conditions too. Keeping people healthy is our top priority, which is why we work closely with the Holistic Health for the Homeless Team who are dedicated to seeing the residents, ensuring good health and helping them gain access to the healthcare they need.

Mental Health

Mental health can mean many things, whether it’s a long-term clinical issue or simply wellbeing concerns from the weight and pressure of being in the situations many of our residents find themselves in, we understand that there is often a need for support tackling potentially difficult or distressing topics.

With the help of our clinical psychotherapist we can offer critically important sessions for our residents, often helping them take the all-important first step.

The Impact

YMCA Lincolnshire is continuing to develop the approach to tackling not just the immediate issues presented with homelessness, but also the surrounding negative effects someone may be experiencing. Far more than just a bed or a hot meal, we believe that everyone that comes to us for aid should be able to feel like they can find a way to belong, contribute and thrive.

Pathway: More than simply our emergency housing service, our Nomad Centre and Hostel provide the foundations for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to stay off the street and move through into temporary accommodation while they work to find their feet. Being able to provide longer term accommodation provides crucial stability to assist in residents finding employment and a future home.

Activities: Whether it’s a social around the pool table or a regular outing there are a variety of activities and opportunities that our residents take part in something and connect with others. In recent months there has been a regular angling club which has become very popular; started by one of our residents its proven to be a great way for people to get outdoors and get to know each other.

Getting out and independence: At YMCA Lincolnshire we always encourage independence where possible. Recently we have been gifted a new bike rack for our Hostel that has allowed residents to keep bikes that give both affordable travel and freedom that they may not have had access to before.

Support: Our values that are underpinning of all we do include that we are welcoming and supportive, this extends to people of all backgrounds, ages, faiths and sexes. Something that many people assume is that YMCA is only for young Christian men, however we offer support to all equally and aspire to help everyone lead a fulfilled and happy life.

Continuing to look at the bigger picture than simply the issue at hand, YMCA Lincolnshire’s Sleep Easy 2025 campaign is crucial to not only help raise vital funding for these wrap-around services, but to also help inform people around the broader issues around homelessness. From the new year until April, we will be sharing the stories, statistics and social change around our organisation; helping give a depth of understanding about what we do and how you can make an impact.

The height of our campaign will be our annual Sleep Easy event, where on March 7th we will welcome participants to travel to Lincoln Cathedral and sleep outside with little more than a sleeping bag and a few cardboard boxes. This event serves as not only an opportunity for people to come together, meet new people and experience something unique, but also serves as a powerful message about the reality those at risk of homelessness are facing.

Our target for the campaign is £15,000 – with which we can fund the activities and broader services that provide far more than a bed, but the chance for people to truly feel safe and fulfilled.

If you would like to learn more about the event and register your interest, you can do so by clicking the link here.

Over the last 12 months, The Nomad Centre has supported over 200 people experiencing homelessness. Our work provides a safe, comfortable space for vulnerable people. As well as clinical support, we also provide enrichment activities and have served over 24,000 meals in the last year. We could not do what we do without the kindness of others.