Debt

Centrepoint's 2005 report "Too much, too young" dealt with issues of problem debt amongst young homeless people.

Read the briefing paper. Read the report.

Poverty

• The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has published a report Child poverty in large families, which says that the government needs to increase spending on reducing child poverty if it is to meet its target of eliminating it by 2020. Read the report Findings

• The JRF has published a report on People in low-paid informal work. The report, subtitled "Need, not greed", found that the practice of people taking 'cash-in-hand' low-paid jobs, or not declaring work while on benefits, is being used as a last resort response to acute poverty or crises. Report Findings

The New Poverty Institute is a "progressive think tank" which carries out research on issues poverty, social exclusion and social inequality. It has produced reports on homelessness for Crisis.

Financial Exclusion

• The Financial Services Research Forum has published A Detailed Study of Financial Exclusion in the UK.

• The House of Commons Treasury Committee is carrying out an inquiry into financial exclusion. Read the Citizens Advice submission to the Inquiry.

A 2003 Citizens Advice/Institute for Public Policy Research report provided this defintion of financial exclusion:

"Financial exclusion can be described as the circumstances in which a person does not have access to appropriate financial products or services which give them the opportunity, ability and confidence to make informed decisions about their financial situation or organise their money effectively."

Financial exclusion can severely affect homeless people. For example, the lack of a bank account can be a problem for people seeking work and/or claiming benefits.