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Definitions of homelessness
Different definitions of homelessness are used in different contexts but it is generally accepted that homeless people include rough sleepers and people in temporary accommodation and hostels. Some people argue that people in insecure or inadequate accommodation should also be seen as homeless and the law reflects this to some extent.
Statutory Homelessness
Local councils have responsibilities to support homeless people under homelessness law. To decide if someone is legally homeless they will assess whether:
- they have no home anywhere in the world where they can live together with their immediate family or
- they can only stay where they are on a very temporary basis or
- it is not reasonable for them to stay in their home because of violence or because of the condition of the property.
But not everyone who meets this statutory definition of homelessness gets real help from councils. People without children are only entitled to temporary accommodation and permanent rehousing if they are pregnant, vulnerable or homeless in an emergency.
Other Definitions
FEANTSA, the European Federation of Homelessness Organisations, has developed a typology of homelessness and housing exclusion which classifies homeless people according to their living situation:
| Category | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| Homeless | Rooflessness Houselessness |
rough sleeping, nightshelters hostels or other temporary accommodation |
| Housing exclusion | Insecure Inadequate |
staying temporarily with friends, squatting overcrowding, caravan, unfit housing |