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