Rough sleeping in Luton has decreased by almost 90% since 2018. Together, there is lots that our community do to help end homelessness: •Education: Find out more on the issue •Give: Donate and support our work •Ask questions: Everyone has a story to tell

Many people who are homeless have little or no support network around them. That’s because over half experienced traumatic childhoods, often becoming estranged from family members. People with strong support networks are far more insulated from the threat of homelessness.

As children, many homeless people experienced trauma, neglect, poverty, family breakdown and disrupted education. Their early trauma and damaged development frequently compounds when it evolves into a chaotic lifestyle.

Many who have been on the streets for years can thrive when provided with high-intensity support & accommodation. Known as Housing First, this approach acknowledges the complexities of addiction, mental health, & trauma, which are difficult to address whilst living on the streets

People who are street homeless are under enormous mental and physical stress. On average their life expectancy is 30 yrs younger than most. Half state they have an addiction due to being street homeless & many more have experienced violence & threatening behaviour towards them.

LHP can often find a person threatened with homelessness accommodation for that same night. In Luton, the evidence suggests that 95% begging are using the income to pay for life-controlling class A drug or alcohol addictions, & the other 5% are housed but living in poverty.

Immigration rules can result in a person being deported just because they were seen sleeping rough. Migrants classed as having ‘restricted eligibility for public funds’ cannot access state support such as free healthcare or benefits. This puts them in a very vulnerable position

People who are homeless are often sleep-deprived, in poor physical health & face multiple barriers. It’s also important to recognise that homelessness is a transitional stage in a person’s life, not a lifelong label. Last year, the LHP supported more than 200ppl into employment.

The National Coalition for the Homeless estimates that 40%-60% of people experiencing homelessness are employed, sometimes working two or three jobs, and still not being able to afford housing. Others face various obstacles which inhibit their ability to find sufficient work.

Females are 20% more likely than men to live in temporary accommodation. Females are more likely to become homeless because of domestic abuse & once on the streets, can face the choice of abuse from others on the streets or stay with an abusive partner for protection.

2/12Those experiencing homelessness can be put in dangerous situations due to their homelessness, not because they are dangerous people. This is especially true for those who are street homeless, many of whom have mental health issues, which is misinterpreted as being dangerous.

1/12 When we think of homelessness we see a person in a sleeping bag on the streets. But it's far broader than this, and includes sleeping on sofas, hostels, B&Bs and buildings not fit for habitation. 1 in every 66 Lutonians are homeless, but only 1 in 20,000 are street homeless.