EVERYWHERE
NOWHERE
An Interview with JP
In the hopes to get an insight into the world of squatting and struggling for shelter, Jessica speaks to JP who spent 4 years sleeping rough, squatting, and living on the streets in the UK.
JP opened up about his personal experiences on the streets and shared with Jessica his thoughts on how the systems of power in the UK do or don't help such people stuck in the cycle of homelessness.
The Homeless Crisis in London
London, a busy capital city with a population of approximately 9,541,000 people is known for its iconographic architecture of which tourists admire as they walk through the city’s streets. Unfortunately for many, the streets of London is where they live, eat and struggle to sleep and this number is constantly rising.
​
The Borough of Westminster had an estimated 2.7 thousand people sleeping rough each night prior to the Coronavirus outbreak which along with rising rates of unemployment, lack of affordable housing, and rising living costs the rate of homelessness is only becoming more devastating.
Though there is no national statistic for rough sleepers within the United Kingdom, In London alone it was estimated that around 640 people were thought to be sleeping rough in the Autumn of 2021 and 2,240 sleeping rough in England (Gov UK, 2022).
​
According to Homeless charity Crisis, since 2011, there has been a 94% increase in the rate of homelessness, evidencing no ease on the crisis for rough sleepers, making it clear that the need for long-term solutions to social, economic and political issues such as affordable shelter, work opportunities, and appropriate mental and physical wellbeing support for those previously or currently on the streets.
It has only been in the last year that sections of the Vagrancy Act 1824 is beginning to be repealed removing the cirminialisation of sleeping rough and asking for food or money on the streets. However, this is not enough to abolish rought sleeping from the streets of London. There is so much more to fight for, and so much more to be addressed. Check out how to support charities and do your own bit within your borough on the Support Page and be sure to check out Jessica’s conceptual street work on homeslessess on the Project Page