4 ways that not having an address is keeping people homeless
We’re working towards a simple solution that allows homeless people to access their post
There are estimated to be over 320,000 homeless people in Britain, a number that has grown every year since 2011. Securing a permanent home involves accessing key services like benefits, healthcare and banking. But in order to register for these services, you need an address.
Having no fixed address can stop homeless people from getting the support they need. We spoke to homeless people at day centres around the country, and found 4 ways this impacts them.
1. You can’t get a bank account without an address
Having a bank account is essential for many things including getting a job and finding somewhere to live. But to open a bank account you need to provide an address. For homeless people that’s often not possible.
2. Without an address or bank account, it’s a struggle to access benefits
Many homeless people are entitled to benefits such as Universal Credit, pensions and disability benefits. But in recent years it’s become more difficult to claim benefits without a bank account.
We found that even when homeless people do manage to claim, they can miss appointment letters if they’re moving around a lot. This can lead to sanctions or the withdrawal of benefits altogether.
3. Accessing healthcare without an address is a constant challenge
Many homeless people experience physical and mental health problems, so it’s important they can access medical support to get back on their feet. But it can be difficult to register with a GP without an address — and without access to primary healthcare, accident and emergency is often the only option.
This problem is made worse by hospitals, mental health services and addiction recovery services sending letters to inform people of appointments. If you don’t have a fixed address you’re likely to miss this letter, which can mean dropping back down to the bottom of a long waiting list.
4. A missed housing letter can mean months spent sleeping on the street
Nick, a homeless person we spoke to, missed a housing appointment letter because he didn’t have access to his post. Missing this appointment meant he missed out on the offer of a flat and had to spend 3 more months sleeping on the street before he was offered another appointment.
Breaking the cycle
Homelessness is a complex issue, and no 2 stories of homelessness are the same. But there is 1 thing that all homeless people have in common: they don’t have a fixed address.
It’s clear that having no fixed address and no access to post is keeping homeless people locked in a vicious cycle, and we want to put a stop to this. We want the government to review homeless people’s access to post and how it can be improved.
Fixing the problem should be simple
We think the answer is simple - let homeless people use post offices or delivery offices as their address and to collect post.
We think that by building on existing systems, such as PO boxes, homeless people could be given an address and a place to pick up their post. This would have the potential to break the cycle, and help homeless people get the support they need.
