In Swindon, the most common reason for people ultimately becoming homeless last year was that their family or friends were no longer able or willing to accommodate them. This was followed by private rented tenancies ending (due to eviction or landlords selling their properties), people leaving institutions (such as care, hospital or prison) with nowhere to go to, domestic violence, and eviction from supported housing.
Behind the single reasons identified for people losing their last settled home, local authority figures reveal that a high number of the people who became homeless in Swindon last year were facing chronic personal challenges linked to social exclusion. Many had a history of mental health problems, offending and domestic abuse, as well as current issues with physical ill health, disability and problems with drug / alcohol use.
There is no single reason for people becoming homeless. Two thirds of people who are homeless experience severe and multiple disadvantages such as poor mental health, poverty, neglect, trauma, lack of employable skills, substance misuse, offending behaviour, poor physical health, disability or domestic violence.
72% of mental health conditions and 44% of health conditions in people who are homeless were present before homelessness. 59% said that health problems were a factor in their becoming homeless and 66% said that drug and alcohol use first led to their homelessness.
Research shows that trauma is also a direct trigger for homelessness. 94% of people facing homelessness have experienced trauma. Most of these experienced complex traumas occurring throughout their life, with two thirds having four or more traumas over a prolonged period.
Domestic abuse is the third most common cause of homelessness. 32% of women who are homeless said domestic violence contributed to their homelessness, and 52% of domestic abuse victims need support to help them stay in their own home or move to new accommodation.
All of these issues create barriers to accessing basic needs such as housing and health care and exclude people from participating in education, employment, social activities and even daily living tasks. This makes it very difficult for people to get the specialist support they need to overcome issues which lead to homelessness.
In Swindon, areas of deprivation include housing as well as education and skills, very low social mobility and access to services, all of which affect access to good quality housing. 26% of children are living in poverty and people struggle to buy their own homes, with the average house price being nearly eight times the average annual salary.
Rent for private properties in Swindon rose by a third more than the rest of the southwest last year. Swindon saw around a 10% rent increase and 5% council tax rise, yet household earnings only went up by 3%. Local Housing Allowance (LHA) here is less than 70% of the average private rent, with no automatic link between LHA levels and changing local rental prices since 2012.
With other living costs such as food, energy and transport also rapidly increasing, and a lower than national average disposable income, households in Swindon are struggling to keep up with rent, utilities and essentials. Landlord repossession claims in Swindon rose by 45% in 2023 as tenants failed to meet their payments.
It is also extremely difficult to get council housing. Swindon Borough Council’s website states, “There is a shortage of council housing in Swindon and a huge demand for accommodation. This means properties are not generally available and usually only go to those who are in the most need. It can take years to be rehoused.”
There is a grave shortage of social housing across the country, with more social housing being demolished or sold off under the Right to Buy scheme than delivered to people in need. High demand means only the most vulnerable are housed. Those who aren’t deemed a priority, such as men without families, are at greater risk of homelessness.
The standard of housing in Swindon is an issue as well as the cost. 12% of all occupied homes failed to meet the government’s official Decent Homes Standard. 17% of private rented homes were deemed non-decent along with 13% of social homes. Over half of homes in Swindon were found to be energy inefficient last year. Swindon Borough Council failed to meet The Regulator of Social Housing’s consumer standards, falling short on a number of safety standards and unable to demonstrate they had taken tenants’ views into account in their decision-making. The council has committed to improving their standards.
Homelessness is destroying lives in our community. A thousand people in Swindon do not have a home and many more households are at risk. Anyone can be affected by homelessness.
Please help us to end homelessness in Swindon.
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