Homelessness outlook in Jersey is bleak - report

A new report has revealed 406 people sought shelter in Jersey during 2023

The outlook for tackling homelessness in Jersey "remains bleak", a board which specialises in the subject says.

Its comments come after a report collating data from local homeless accommodation providers was published.

In 2023, 406 people sought shelter in Jersey, the report revealed.

Domestic violence, relationship breakdown or being in unsafe or insecure housing were the three most common reasons for people needing accommodation, the board said.

Working age homeless

Jersey's Homelessness Strategic Board said the report also showed evictions followed closely behind the three main reasons for people needing accommodation.

The report showed the majority of homeless residents, about 90%, were of working age, and 79% held entitled residential and employment status.

It showed 68% were British from the UK or Jersey - 51% being born in Jersey and 17% UK-born - 18% Portuguese-born and 4% Polish-born.

The quarterly flash report recorded only three categories of homelessness.

There are a further 10 categories making up the government's definition of homelessness, which was presented to the States Assembly in October 2022.

Summary of Government of Jersey's definition of homelessness

Rooflessness:

• People without a shelter of any kind, sleeping rough

• In emergency accommodation

Houselessness:

• People in short-term or temporary accommodation

• Women's shelters

• Accommodation for migrant workers

• People due to be released from institutions where no accommodation is available

• People receiving support due to long term homelessness

Living in insecure housing:

• People living temporarily with friends or family

• Under threat of eviction

• Under the threat of violence

Living in inadequate housing:

• People living in unconventional structures, such as caravans or illegal campsites

• Living in unfit housing

• Living in extreme overcrowding

In March 2023, senior politicians said the first set of homelessness statistics to be published by the government since the new definition was introduced would be released that month.

This had yet to happen, the board said.

"Defining homelessness and then evidencing its scale and nature were the first two recommendations of the board's 2020 Homelessness Strategy", said board chairman Simon Burgess.

"Without collating this information on an ongoing basis, the government will only be second-guessing as to the steps needed to tackle the issues and this will prevent the homelessness strategy being implemented in full."

Responding to a question in the States Assembly in January, newly-appointed Housing Minister Sam Mézec said he was absolutely committed to implementing all of the recommendations of the homelessness strategy.

"Committing to implementing the homelessness strategy is very welcome news", said Patrick Lynch, CEO of Caritas Jersey and member of the Homelessness Strategic Board.

"The strategy was published after an in-depth review of the complex challenges that Jersey faces and full government implementation is urgently needed", he added.