Brighton and Hove has the second largest homeless population in England with “1 out of every 78 people*” being homeless. A variety of factors contribute to such a volume of homelessness in Brighton. Combinations of high cost rent, cuts to mental health funding, the knock on effects of employment from the Covid-19 pandemic and high level of substance abuse in the area, all contribute to the high number of homeless people. As such this should be taken seriously, as it impacts the lives of everyone in Brighton.
The high levels of substance abuse amidst Brighton, and lack of access to mental health support creates an uptick in antisocial behaviour. With mentally ill homeless people experiencing conditions that drastically worsen their mental state, leading to irrationality, agitation and at times criminality and intimidation. For many of these people, had they gotten early help or support the seemingly inescapable descent into homelessness would have been but a concern and nothing more. Yet for over 3,700 homeless people across Brighton and Hove, it’s a torrid reality.
The YMCA is one of the only sources for the homeless to turn to in such difficult times, not just offering a place to stay, or temporary respite, but in many cases transforming peoples lives, and actively preventing cases of homelessness in Brighton and across the UK. In David’s case, the YMCA was able to turn his life around through providing support and help. Dealing with the death of his father, and undiagnosed ASD, David was on the streets with no end in sight. His decision to seek YMCA’s help, however, proved to change his situation entirely, as he received a much needed ASD diagnosis and free counselling, which he attributes heavily to getting his life back together- “the second most important thing that YMCA Brighton provided me with, aside from the shelter and support, was the therapy sessions.”.
Homelessness, is a serious issue that only seems to be getting worse. It dramatically impacts hundreds of thousands across the country, and the knock on effects can impact anybody, homeless or not. It’s incredibly important to remember that anyone, given dire enough circumstances can end up with nowhere to go. The government in its current state has only made it harder for the disenfranchised to get back on their feet, through cuts and lack of action. For many there was no action possible to avoid homelessness.
As a person with my own mental illness, it can be impossible to get the help you need in time. It feels like an endless cycle of waiting lists or expensive private fees, just to get a diagnosis, let alone salient help. It’s no wonder, with the state of mental health support for the general public, that homelessness is on the rise. Many are just like you and me, but don’t have the luck of relatives or friends to fall back on. Substance abuse may play a part for some, but without adequate mental health support for those who lack the money and truly need it, it’s a slippery and de-humanising slope.
* Taken from – https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_release/274000_people_in_england_are_homeless_with_thousands_more_likely_to_lose_their_homes
