Homelessness while working

If an employee is homeless, four out of ten employers would likely terminate the contract

A new report (by Crisis) has found that nearly one in four households in England is at risk of or experiencing homelessness, which explains why four out of ten employers (42%) from across the UK admit they would likely terminate an employee's contract if they were homeless.

A survey of 250 UK employers, an analysis of recent UK government homelessness statistics, and in-depth interviews with people from across Great Britain who have experienced being in-work and homeless over the past two years inform the report. There is an insightful discussion of how being homeless and working both have a tremendous impact on a person's wellbeing, how this damages people's chances of connecting with colleagues, and how employees are reluctant to contact employers for assistance because they fear losing their jobs. In addition, the study shows how poorly paid, insecure employment can lead to homelessness.

In their own words, participants spoke of how experiencing homelessness while working negatively impacted their physical as well as emotional wellbeing. The inability to keep homelessness secret compounded this impact. As a result, everyday tasks such as eating, sleeping, and washing became extremely challenging.

Many participants reported that they often felt anxiety and fatigue because of the frustration of finding a place to sleep night after night, forcing them to sleep in vehicles, on floors, or in tents before traveling long distances. As a result of poor hygiene, a number of participants used gyms or the generosity of friends to access showers, while one participant was forced to wash in train toilets.

Unfortunately, the isolation of working without a home was also reflected in the statistics, with many participants choosing not to tell their boss because they feared nothing good would result, as well as the shame of what would be said about them. As a result, many participants hid their circumstance by using friends or family members addresses for administration and avoided situations in which their homelessness might be revealed, causing them to feel isolated from their peers.

Survey findings reveal over half (56%) of employers are concerned that homelessness will have a detrimental effect on an employee's job. Additionally, 58% reported that the prospect of being homeless would likely negatively affect an application, suggesting that negative attitudes towards homelessness are a major issue in the UK.

According to the report, regional disparities exist in job opportunities for people without a home:

• The East of England has the highest proportion of working households experiencing homelessness at 25%, followed by London at 24%, where high rents and a lack of affordable housing are prevalent concerns. More than ever before, London has more people on zero-hero contracts as of September.
   
• The highest percentage of homelessness is experienced in Berkshire (41%) and Lancashire (38%) respectively.
   
• The North of England has traditionally had lower housing costs than the South, but there are signs that this is changing. After the South East and London, the North West is the region with the third-highest proportion of people in full-time work who are homeless.