In the winter months as Brighton hits below freezing temperatures, there are hundreds whose reality is harsh – survival on the streets. In Brighton, estimates by Shelter show that over 3,580 people are homeless this winter, with more than 1,000 homeless children being placed in emergency temporary accommodation. Homelessness has increased by 27% in Brighton and Hove over the past year, as homes become more and more unaffordable for many.
Why does Brighton have such an issue with homelessness?
In Brighton, high housing costs and low local wages have meant that buying or renting homes in the city is unaffordable, with on average 10 new people becoming homeless every day. Even for those who are able to spend over a third of their wages on rent – which is rising by approximately 13% yearly- buying a home in Brighton is nearly impossible as property website Rightmove reports that a 4 bed family home in Brighton and Hove now costs upwards of £534,288, which is double the national average. This crisis has not been helped by the mass amount of empty homes in the city as many are brought up by landlords to rent out for profit through Airbnb during the summer months. Local activist Daniel Harris told The Argus in 2023 that ‘the Airbnb website confirms, there are almost 3,000 listings in Brighton and Hove at the moment and, of those, 74 per cent are entire home rentals’.
Shockingly, Brighton also has the highest mortality rate for those sleeping rough, in 2023 43 people died on the streets of Brighton. Studies by University College London have shown that nearly one in three people die from treatable conditions while living on the streets, according to a 2019 study. It is important to remember that homelessness can be ‘hidden’ too, as some people who do not have a permanent home instead stay with friends or family.
Emmaus have provided statements for The Badger regarding homelessness in Brighton.
Do you think homelessness in Brighton has gotten worse since the cost of living crisis began?
“Homelessness has definitely increased since the cost of living crisis, the increase in rent and mortgage rates has seen people losing their homes as they can no longer afford them. Landlords are demanding larger deposits and several months rent upfront which just is not an option for those on low incomes.”
Why do you think Brighton has the highest mortality rate for homeless individuals in England?
“The death of any homeless person is extremely upsetting, the fact that Brighton’s is so high is particularly devastating. Cuts to vital healthcare providers and an increasing homeless population in the City has really stretched these services. This will always impact the most vulnerable and those less able to advocate for themselves suffer the most.”
How often are your sites at full capacity?
“We have seen a huge increase in referrals and have had waiting lists for the first time since Covid which sadly shows the state of homelessness in our City.”
What more can communities do to help the homelessness crisis?
“What we really need is truly affordable housing that is accessible to all. This will take considerable investment but the benefits will be life-changing. As individuals acknowledge and be respectful to those rough sleeping and support the charities that support the homelessness.”
For more information visit : https://emmaus.org.uk/brighton-hove/
Have empathy
In December of 2023, myself and a few other members of The Badgers met a man called Solomon, who had been sleeping on the streets for several months, as his temporary accommodation was unsafe for him to stay at. One thing I’d like to note is I remember him directly blaming the Conservative Government at the time for his situation. Our paths crossed by coincidence, and he told us stories about his life, while we waited with him for an ambulance to arrive. But it never did. Passers stopped us and told us ‘not to bother’ helping him, and to ‘go home’, as if he wasn’t worthy of our time due to his material conditions. I can’t help but wonder, if he had not been homeless, that the paramedics would have arrived a lot faster – rather than not at all. After our meeting with Solomon, I know myself and the others who met him were very touched, and it was an evening I will never forget.