United Kingdom

The United Kingdom (U.K.) has established legislation and relatively well-developed service provision in relation to homelessness, and there is an abundance of literature on homelessness dating back as far as the origins of social inquiry into inequality and poverty. Also, the political processes associated with the causes of homelessness in the U.K. are traditionally analyzed according to welfare ideologies and changing political regimes (e.g., Conservative governments of 1979–1997 and the New Labour government post–1997). Given the history of the U.K. welfare state, changes in policies and interventions are an important consideration because they directly and indirectly impact the causes of homelessness.

Homelessness and Decentralized Government

Another factor influencing the causes of homelessness is the decentralization of government. Briefly, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of the four principalities of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, all historically governed centrally from London. Under devolution, or the implementation of autonomous self-governing systems, a Scottish Parliament was created in 1999, followed by National Assemblies for Wales and Northern Ireland (subject to suspension in the light of political change), and a Greater London Assembly. Scotland has always had the greatest degree of autonomy from London, and this is increasingly the case in post-devolution. The Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies have some policy responsibility for housing and have undertaken reviews of homelessness in those principalities, causing the role of regional government to play an important part in determining access to housing and support services.

A homeless young man writing in his personal journal on a London street in July 2003

Karen Christensen; used with permission.