Navigating Mental Health and Homelessness Challenges

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Mental health and homelessness in the UK

There is a very strong correlation between people experiencing homelessness and mental health issues. For example, 50% of people sleeping rough in London require mental health support.

The Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields is a day centre specifically supporting people experiencing homelessness in London by providing accommodation and a safe place to turn. Of all the people it supports in the capital, 85% report facing childhood trauma. 

Despite these high figures, they still may not fully capture the extent of the problem. Statistics only account for individuals on record, who are known to support networks and authorities. There are a wealth of others all across the UK experiencing hidden homelessness, sleeping in unsuitable circumstances such as sofa surfing or living in dilapidated, abandoned, and run-down properties. Enduring these conditions can have a significant impact on someone’s mental health.

Additionally, the Big Issue reported that by the end of 2023, 112,660 households in England were in temporary accommodation, facing the constant risk of eviction. This insecurity can worsen mental health as well as further increase the number of people affected by homelessness.

Thankfully, everyone has the power to help people experiencing homelessness, improving their housing situation and creating a foundation for positive mental health changes. Your donations are what make it possible.

The connection between structural causes of homelessness and mental health

Clearly, someone’s mental health can deteriorate significantly when they experience homelessness, but poor mental health can also contribute to them falling into homelessness to begin with.

However, mental health difficulties often come as a consequence of structural causes of homelessness, which are any societal issues making it more difficult for individuals or families to find a home.

While these factors are present across several areas, including employment and healthcare, the lack of suitable housing provision is the main structural cause of homelessness, both as a result of high rental costs and limited social properties. The ONS government figures show how the average cost of rent in the UK rose by 9% in the 12 months leading up to February 2024. This is the steepest annual increase since records began in 2015.

With the cost of private rental being so unaffordable, many families turn to social housing, but their chances of securing a home are becoming increasingly bleak. In short, social housing provision is failing to keep up with demand. Government figures on social housing waiting lists highlight an increase of 73,000 households awaiting a property from March 2022 to March 2023.

In many cases, housing pressures and other societal issues (discussed later) are so overwhelming that there’s very little people can do to prevent mental health issues from developing, consequently increasing their risk of homelessness.

St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity is striving to support people in this position, working alongside several incredible organisations up and down the UK. We are proud to have secured over £500,000 in funding for mental health projects in Britain. This funding is vital to helping frontline workers provide the care and support people experiencing homelessness need.

Mental health issues leading to homelessness

Once someone develops mental health issues as a result of societal problems, their behaviour and decisions may also be impacted. In some cases, mental health problems could reach a point where they severely hinder someone’s ability to live and integrate into society in the way they would like.

Again, this can be reflected across multiple aspects of everyday life. Read on to learn more about some of the factors related to mental health which can potentially lead to homelessness.

Difficulty sustaining employment

Poor mental health is a widespread problem within employment as a whole. Additional statistics provided by the Mental Health Foundation state that, in 2022/23, there were 875,000 workers suffering from work-related stress, depression or anxiety, resulting in a loss of 17.1 million working days.

In some cases, employees may be unable to overcome their work-related mental health challenges, leading them to quit their jobs. If they’re unable to secure another role, either as a result of their mental health difficulties or due to a lack of opportunities, they will inevitably face increased financial pressure.

Without a reliable income, they might not be able to pay their rent, leaving them at risk of losing their home and needing to seek increasingly sparse social housing.

Platfform, an organisation funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity, provides mental health support for people experiencing homelessness in Wales and beyond. Their Out of Work Service team helps people in Wales build their confidence and improve their mental health, giving them access to training and volunteer opportunities which can open the door to long-term employment.

Additionally, if someone does find themselves out of work and unable to afford their home, we offer emergency grants through our Vicar’s Relief Fund to prevent people from falling into homelessness. A relatively small sum of money can be all someone needs to make a rent payment for a month, potentially giving them the breathing room to get back on their feet by finding employment or alternative accommodation.

Substance misuse

Given all the challenges within society contributing to mental health problems, many people turn to drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

Statistics from the Substance Misuse Database show 3,092 people sought help for substance misuse in Northern Ireland in 2021/22. In Scotland, 1,330 drug-related deaths occurred in 2021, 4.6 times higher than in 2000. Meanwhile, 9.5% of people aged 16 to 59 in England and Wales reported drug use in the year ending March 2023, according to official figures. These statistics highlight a widespread substance misuse problem across the UK.

Substance misuse can make it extremely difficult to keep up with the demands of everyday life, both physically and financially. Being addicted to drugs or alcohol presents challenges in securing and maintaining employment, either because individuals are physically incapable, or because employers don’t want to hire them. Again, this financial strain limits someone’s ability to afford a home, leaving them at greater risk of homelessness.

Rowan Alba, a Scottish charity who receive funding from St Martin-in-the-Fields, offers the Community Alcohol Related Damage Service (CARDS) program to support people facing addiction by providing emotional health support and social networks through volunteers. The scheme gives these individuals regular social interaction within their own homes, making them a part of their community rather than leaving them isolated and potentially spiralling into homelessness.

Relationship breakdown

We’ve predominantly touched on how mental health issues can impact employment, but they can also lead to homelessness by causing a breakdown in relationships. If one or both individuals in a relationship are struggling with their mental health, this could lead to strain or tension. If these issues aren’t resolved, it could eventually lead to the relationship completely breaking down.

You might not think there’s a strong connection between relationship breakdown and homelessness, but it can have a significant impact if people are unable to continue to live together. Given the high cost of rent, it can be especially difficult to afford with a single income rather than sharing the cost. Again, this might leave someone relying on social housing which can take a very long time to secure, leaving them susceptible to homelessness originally stemming from mental health problems.

Homelessness mental health services

When mental health issues contribute to homelessness, problems often worsen the longer someone is without a home. This is because they’re living day-by-day in unsuitable conditions, not knowing where they’ll spend the night or where their next meal will come from.

Furthermore, it can be difficult for someone to attain the mental health support they need to improve their situation after falling into homelessness. A report by the NHS Confederation shows a 16% increase in the number of people using NHS mental health services, with a 30% rise in use for people under 18. Despite additional funding in the past, the quality of care has decreased and the number of beds, doctors, and nurses is falling, while the number of patients accessing services is increasing, according to a report by The Trades Union Congress.

Given the strain on NHS services, charitable organisations, such as the partners in our Frontline Network, are relied upon to provide essential mental health support. However, many are not receiving the level of funding they need to keep up with demand, and may even be forced to close their services entirely.

One of the organisations working to provide mental health support is MAC-UK, another charity funded by St Martin-in-the-Fields. Challenges related to mental health are having the greatest impact on young people, and MAC-UK is striving to resolve that. They apply a unique approach, taking mental health practice out onto the streets of London, supporting and empowering young people when and where they need it.

Like MAC-UK there are several charities all over the UK relying on your donations to provide mental health services which help to tackle homelessness. Donate to St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity and help all the organisations we support to continue making a difference.