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	Facts and Figures Older Homelessness Facts and Figures The low priority given to older homeless people is reflected in the lack of comprehensive statistical evidence showing the true extent of the problem. The following figures give an indication of older homelessness based on the most recent research available. Older homeless people are defined by the UK Coalition on Older Homelessness as those who are 50+ and are sleeping rough or living in inappropriate temporary accommodation, or are at risk of homelessness. Why are older homeless people less visible than other groups? The vast majority of older homeless people are invisible because they are often trapped in unsuitable temporary accommodation. Older people sleeping rough frequently hide from view and are not easily identifiable. One study found that 70% of those sleeping rough stayed in isolated or hidden spots (Crane 1997). Older homeless people may not have any contact with statutory or voluntary services, so their needs are not registered. They may not be in receipt of any benefits and will not appear in official housing statistics if they have referred themselves to a bed and breakfast hotel. Official statistics only show those older people accepted by local authorities as vulnerably homeless due to age and this is dependent on the interpretation of the homelessness legislation adopted by individual local authorities (Crane 1997). Older People Sleeping Rough How many older people are sleeping rough? In 1996 there were between 273-389 people sleeping rough in Central London. It is estimated that up to 39% of this population were aged 50+ representing up to 140 older homeless people sleeping rough (Crane 1999). In the rest of England and Wales it has been estimated that up to 560 older homeless people (50+) are sleeping rough (Crane 1999). This provides an estimated total of around 700 older people sleeping rough in England and Wales as a whole. More recent research found that 834 people aged 50 years or more (including 43 aged 70 years or older) slept rough in London at some time between April 1999 and March 2000. Of these, 759 were men and 75 were women (Crane & Warnes 2000). Many older people spend longer sleeping rough - a survey carried out in 1996 found that 63% of people over 50 had been sleeping rough for over 5 years compared with 25% of younger people who had spent a similar period of time on the streets (Central London Street Monitor 1996). Are older people more vulnerable on the streets? Evidence shows that older people are more vulnerable to the mental and physical ill effects of rough sleeping. Many older people do not survive sleeping rough over an extended period and die without any recognition of their plight or circumstances. Because of the effects of rough sleeping on physical and mental health the ageing process is often accelerated. This means that even people in their 50s may exhibit health problems normally associated with an older population. Older people sleeping rough are in greater danger on the streets and are more likely to be physically assaulted (Grenier 1996). Some older people avoid using day centres or hostels due to a fear that they may be assaulted or robbed. Older People in Temporary Accommodation How many older people are living in hostels? It is estimated that up to 7,840 older people (50+) are living in inappropriate hostel accommodation in London. In the rest of England up to 13,200 older people are estimated to be hidden in inappropriate hostel accommodation (Crane 1999). This means that a total of 21,040 were living in hostel accommodation in the England as a whole. Surveys of hostels carried out in London, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester found that 26-35% of residents are over the age of 50 (Crane, 1999). In Glasgow in 1996 there were only 86 homeless people housed through emergency statutory services. However, in January 1997, there were 641 people over 55 in temporary hostels and hotels representing 35% of the hostel population; at least 12 older men were known to be sleeping rough (Crane 1997). A recent one-night survey of direct-access and first-stage hostels in London in August 2000 found 700 residents aged 50 years and over. This included 233 men and 45 women aged 60-plus (Warnes and Crane 2000). The lack of suitable move-on accommodation for older people means that they spend longer in short stay hostels than other groups. Research in London found that 30% of hostel residents had been in short term hostel beds for over a year. How many older people are living in bed and breakfast hotels? In 1997 it was estimated that up to 4,980 referred themselves to bed and breakfast hostels in Greater London. In the rest of England and Wales it was estimated that up to 21,960 older homeless people (50+) were self-referrals to bed and breakfast accommodation and did not appear in official statistics. This provides a total of 26,940 living 'unofficially' in bed and breakfast in England and Wales (Crane 1999). Conclusions How many older people are unofficially homeless in England and Wales? Based on the statistical information outlined above we can roughly estimate that up to 48,000 older people are unofficially homeless in England and Wales. How many older people homeless people are 'officially' accepted as homeless by their local authority? In the year to June 2000, 3740 households were accepted as statutorily homeless in England because of vulnerability related to old age. This represented 4-5% of all acceptances in England. In Northern Ireland over 4% of acceptances were of older people (Council for the Homeless, NI 1999). However, guidance to local authorities suggests that 'old age' should be defined as people aged 60+, although some local authorities may consider people aged 50+. This means that many older people over 50 may not be accepted as homeless due to old age depending on the interpretation of individual local authorities (Crane 1999). Are politicians aware of problems facing older homeless people? There is a lack of awareness of older homelessness as a specific aspect of the overall problem. An analysis of Hansard showed that between October 1998 and July 2000, there were 326 items on homelessness, of which 24% referred to young people, yet less than one per cent made any reference at all to older people (Warnes & Crane 2000). Sources Crane, M. 1999. Understanding Older Homeless People . Open University Press. Warnes, T & Crane, M. 2000. Unpublished research study commissioned by: Bondway HA, St.Mungo's, and Thames Reach. Crane, M. 1997. Homeless Truths: Challenging the Myths about Older Homeless People . Help the Aged Grenier, P. 1996. Still Dying for a Home . Crisis Council for the Homeless Northern Ireland. 1999. Research on Homelessness in NI. Information Facts and Figures Publications Bibliography Training Weblinks
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