At Fresh Start Housing Services (FSHS), we understand that being homeless doesn’t always mean sleeping rough. That’s why our services are open to all those living without settled, safe, or secure accommodation. If you are sofa-surfing, living in unsuitable accommodation, or threatened with eviction, we can help. FSHS offers accommodation to all individuals and families in housing crisis.
Our properties range from shared houses to self-contained flats and family homes. With James Crawford UK Ltd acting as the landlord, tenants will benefit from the stability and security of having somewhere to call home, for as long as they need.
- Accommodation services
- Small shared houses
- Self-contained flats
- Family homes
Clients can self-refer to our homeless housing services.
What causes homelessness?
People become homeless for lots of different reasons. There are social causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment; and life events which cause individuals to become homeless.
People can become homeless when they leave prison, care or the army with no home to go to. Many homeless women have escaped a violent relationship.
Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent.
And for many, life events like a relationship breaking down, losing a job, mental or physical health problems, or substance misuse can be the trigger. Being homeless can, in turn, make many of these problems even harder to resolve.
Last year 57,890 households were accepted as homeless in England. In Scotland, 34,100 applications were assessed as homeless and in Wales 9,210 households were threatened with homelessness.
Types of homelessness
Rough sleeping
Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, and when most people think of a homeless person they tend to think of someone sleeping rough on the streets. Many people who sleep rough will suffer from multiple health conditions, such as mental health problems and drug misuse they are also in greater danger of violence than the general population.
Statutory homelessness
Local authorities have a duty to secure a home for some groups of people. This is often referred to as the main homelessness duty. Every year, tens of thousands of people apply to their local authority for homelessness assistance.
To be legally defined as homeless you must either lack a secure place in which you are entitled to live or not reasonably be able to stay. However, in order to receive assistance under the main homelessness duty, there are further strict criteria that you have to meet. Local authorities may initially provide temporary accommodation to households who might meet these criteria, mainly families with children.
Hidden homelessness
Many people who are not entitled to help with housing, or who don’t even approach their councils for help, aren’t counted in the official statistics.
Many stay in hostels, squats or B&Bs, in overcrowded accommodation or ‘concealed’ housing, such as the floors or sofas of friends and family.
We seek to provide good quality accommodation within a safe, supportive and encouraging environment. What are you waiting for? take the first step to a fresh start.