Homelessness - The facts

  • The life expectancy for someone sleeping rough is 42 (lower than Ethiopa or the Republic of Congo).
    [Crisis, Still Dying for a Home, 1996]
  • If you live on the streets you are 35 times more likely to be the subject of a physical attack.
  • 86% of young homeless people are forced to leave home rather than choose to.
    [SEU July 1998]
  • One third of young homeless people have attempted suicide.
    [Craig T. et al, Off to a Bad Start, 1996]
  • A Crisis survey of 150 homeless people across the UK found that 47% possess qualifications; of those 48% have GCSEs, 16% have A levels, 15% have a degree and 13% have professional qualifications.
    [Crisis, 2002]
  • Mental Health problems are up to eight times more common in the homeless population.
    [The Health of Single Homeless People, Centre for Housing Policy University of York 1994]