What is homelessness?
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You may be homeless if you’re sleeping rough, don’t have rights to stay where you are or you live in unsuitable housing.
When are you homeless?
The definition of homelessness means not having a home. You are homeless if you have nowhere to stay and are living on the streets, but you can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head.
You count as homeless if you are:
- staying with friends or family
- staying in a hostel, night shelter or B&B
- squatting (because you have no legal right to stay)
- at risk of violence or abuse in your home
- living in poor conditions that affect your health
- living apart from your family because you don’t have a place to live together.
Who is affected?
Homelessness affects a wide variety of people. Some people may be more vulnerable to homelessness.
You may be more at risk if you are:
- leaving home for the first time or leaving care
- pregnant with nowhere to stay when the baby comes
- struggling to live on benefits or a low income
- from abroad without the r...
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