Silhouette of a person with a hoodie and backpack walking outdoors at sunset or sunrise with a colorful sky in the background.
Purple abstract line art on black background.

What is Homelessness?

Homelessness isn’t always visible. It can mean sleeping in cars, staying in temporary hostels, or moving from one sofa to another — with no safe place to call your own. 

Homelessness means not having a safe, stable, or secure place to live 

In England, over 126,000 households were living in temporary accommodation at the end of September 2024, including 164,040 children—a record high and a 16% increase on the previous year.  On any given night in autumn 2024, around 4,667 individuals were recorded sleeping rough—a troubling 20% rise since 2023.

Here in Plymouth, the situation is equally stark: 480 people were recorded sleeping rough in 2023–24—up 25% in just one year. The number of available social housing lets has declined by 36% over the last five years. There are often 30 to 100 applicants for every available private rented property, with many offering higher rents or upfront payments to secure housing.

But homelessness isn’t inevitable. At Path, we firmly believe hope starts with a home. Every day, we work alongside people to find stability, rebuild confidence, and move forward—because a home is more than shelter. It’s where safety begins, dignity is restored, and new futures take root.

What causes Homelessness? 

Homelessness can affect anyone

Homelessness is a complex issue shaped by social, economic and political factors

At its heart is a lack of genuinely affordable, good-quality housing - especially for people on the lowest incomes. The shortage of social housing and rising rents in the private sector means for many, finding somewhere stable to live can feel impossible.

Poverty, inequality, discrimination and the rising cost of living all add pressure. When incomes don’t keep pace with rent, people can be forced into impossible choices.

That’s why Path is here - to listen, to support, and to help people find a way forward.

A woman wearing a grey jacket and blue scarf carrying a young child with a pacifier, in an underpass or tunnel with yellow railings.

Who is most at Risk?

Homelessness can affect anyone — but some people face greater risks due to the challenges life has thrown at them.

Close-up of a person's hands clasped together, resting on their lap, wearing a grey knitted sweater and dark pants.

Help Someone

Homelessness is tough — and facing it alone can be overwhelming. But there are ways you can make a real difference in someone’s life, starting today.