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Homeless advocacy groups have revealed that hundreds of local residents, including young people and full-time workers, are residing in emergency accommodation – but claim these "startling" statistics are “just the tip of the iceberg”.
These groups are now advocating for comprehensive data collection to reveal the “scale and nature” of Jersey's homelessness problem to help “plan how to prevent and address” the issue.
Today, on World Homeless Day, Express examines the issue and extent of homelessness in Jersey amid rising living costs and house prices...
Last year, the Housing Minister laid out an official definition of homelessness, covering four core areas and 13 subcategories.
Pictured: Housing Minister David Warr. (Rob Currie)
Deputy David Warr outlined these as rooflessness (sleeping rough), houselessness (temporary institutional or sheltered housing), living in insecure housing (stemming from tenancy insecurity, eviction, or domestic violence), and residing in inadequate housing (caravans, illegal campsites, unfit conditions, or severe overcrowding).
The main aim of creating a clear definition of homelessness is to accurately measure its scope and take targeted action to combat it.
Pictured: Homelessness comes in all shapes and sizes and includes rough sleeping, people living in temporary accommodation, and those under the threat of eviction or domestic violence or living inadequate accommodation.
However, the Jersey Homeless Strategic Board – a group of representatives from charitable and social housing organisations – points out that "the full scale of homelessness in Jersey" is still unclear due to Government data collection delays.
“Without reliable data to identify the categories that are most affected, the Government will continue to be in the dark in trying to formulate preventative policies," said John Hodge, director of The Shelter Trust, which provides emergency hostel accommodation.
Recognising the urgency, the Jersey Homelessness Strategic Board and accommodation providers compiled available data through quarterly flash reports, revealing “startling” results.
In the first nine months of 2023, 313 people found accommodation, but 33 couldn't secure a bed:
The majority (70%) were men, and over 79% had 'Entitled' housing qualifications
Around 90% were of working age, with 27% employed (rising to 46% in the third quarter)
Half needed shelter due to unsafe or insecure housing, domestic violence, or relationship breakdown
Eviction was a factor for 13% of those accommodated, with an increasing trend seen each quarter in 2023
A quarter of those seeking refuge were young people under 25
The available data reflects individuals seeking emergency shelter from five local charities, but this covers only three of the government's 13 homelessness categories, leaving various homeless situations unaccounted for and their underlying causes unaddressed.
Pictured: Jersey Homelessness Strategic Board and accommodation providers revealed "startling" data about 'houselessness' – which is only one area of the issue – suggesting that further data needs to be collated to evidence the "scale and nature" of other types of homelessness.
Therefore, while these statistics provide some insights, they represent only the “tip of the iceberg”, according to Terry Morel, Chair of Jersey Women’s Refuge.
“There is 'hidden homelessness' throughout the island and more needs to be done to identify its true extent and refine policy that targets preventive measures”, he continued.
Simon Burgess, the Chair of the Jersey Homelessness Strategic Board, said that World Homeless Day presents “an opportunity to draw attention to the needs of people who experience homelessness in Jersey, whilst highlighting that we still do not know the full scale of the problem”.
“World Homeless Day provides opportunities for islanders to get involved in responding to homelessness, and to ask our politicians what they are doing to understand the true extent of homelessness and how they propose to improve policies to tackle the causes, not just the symptoms," he added.
To mark World Homelessness Day, organisers will enact five scenarios illustrating various forms of homelessness to raise awareness and advocate for those without a home at West Centre, Town Square.
Representatives from accommodation providers will be on hand to address questions and guide individuals on how to contribute through donations, support, time, or money.
They will also provide updates on the progress made since the publication of the Jersey Homelessness strategy in 2020, in partnership with the Government, social housing providers, volunteers, and the private sector, all working towards addressing eight objectives aimed at tackling the issue.
Attendees can also receive a free coffee voucher from Chordz as a token of appreciation.
Pictured Top: Andium Homes staff members in town today sharing how they are working together with Government, Third Sector and Private Sector organisations to provide support and accommodation for those in Jersey who need it.
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