There's a hidden crisis in the countryside that ruins lives…and nobody is talking about it

A team of researchers and rural experts are putting that right by investigating what causes rural homelessness and what policymakers can do about it.

When you think of ‘homelessness’, it likely conjures up images of cardboard boxes in urban shop doorways. But there is a hidden problem residing in the rolling hills and picturesque landscapes of the British countryside.

Homelessness in rural areas has more than doubled in the last two years and is rising. In the countryside, a lack of affordable accommodation, limited public transport, social isolation, and a shortage of specialist resources make it a complicated issue to tackle. This has been worsened by the pandemic following a temporary pause on evictions, a rise in domestic violence, and unearthed socio-economic inequalities.

Take 52-year-old Essex farm worker, Sally, who loved her farming job, but redundancy meant she had to give up her tied home and had to spend some of her time living in a horsebox. The rest of the time she took refuge in sheds and outhouses and occasional ‘sofa-surfing' because she simply couldn’t afford to live anywhere. For four years, Andrea was homeless until the local authority found her an affordable home to rent in the village she grew up in, close to her support networks.

So why is nobody talking about it?
So far, research has largely focused on urban homelessness due to its inherent visibility, yet it has neglected the crisis facing rural areas. This lack of exposure means it doesn’t get the attention and investment it deserves from policymakers and the Government.

To address this, a task force of rural homelessness experts has come together to lift the lid on this hidden problem.

The joint 12-month project, spearheaded by Professor Helen Carr of Southampton University and Dr. Carin Tunåker of Kent University, will uncover the characteristics of rural homelessness, what makes it worse, and how it can be prevented. The research will aim to raise awareness of this little-known problem and will also encourage policymakers to find a solution.

There is an acute lack of convincing evidence about rural homelessness and so often rural areas are painted as idyllic retreats where people seek out a stress-free life. This perception is in danger of glossing over those who are at risk of becoming homeless or already have no roof over their head. People are not talking about it and there’s a lack of data to properly understand it. Working with such a strong steering group of rural experts, we plan to put this right and supply the evidence needed to give this issue the attention it deserves.

‘Hidden homelessness’ in rural areas needs urgent attention so we can fully understand its causes and how we can prevent it. We also need to take strong and convincing evidence to policymakers to ensure that rural communities are not left out in the cold, as so often they are. Just because we can’t see something, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. In urban areas, the issue is much more visible, yet in rural areas, it remains hidden in barns, tents, and outhouses. Fundamentally, this is about a lack of affordable and available housing and services and, unless we tackle this, the problem is set to remain.