Homelessness is a complex issue. People can become homeless for a variety of reasons such as family breakdown, social exclusion, mental health problems, drug or alcohol misuse, difficulties with sexual orientation and poor physical health. Structural reasons can also lead to homelessness due to low income, rent or mortgage payments, debt and unemployment.
In order to end long-term homelessness and rough sleeping, we need to take into account both individual and structural factors.
In more recent times (2015 onwards) there has been an increase in the number of families who are becoming homeless due to the unaffordability of rents in the private rented sector.
(a) there is no accommodation available which, in the opinion of the authority, he together with any other person who normally resides with him or might reasonably be expected to reside with him, can reasonably occupy or remain in occupation of, or
(b) he is living in a hospital, county home, night shelter or other such institution and is so living because he has no accommodation of the kind referred to in paragraph (a) and he is, in the opinion of the authority, unable to provide accommodation from his own resources.