Homelessness: the most extreme inequality

Abstract

This chapter shows the devastating human impacts of Homelessness. It details the trauma it causes children and describes it as a form of ‘structural violence’. It details the changing nature of homelessness and emergence of new family homelessness, as well as highlighting the wider lack of social housing and the centrality of social housing in providing a home for those on low incomes and in vulnerable situations. It details the structural causes of homelessness and challenges the ‘within person’ explanations of homelessness. It also shows the increase in homelessness in recent years has also seen a corresponding increase in expenditure on the provision of homelessness services rather than prevention. It looks at discrimination in housing – and state responses through the housing assistance ground in the new Equality Legislation and its impact. It details how the new form of homeless accommodation for families, Family Hubs are institutionalising women and children.