Today, on Thursday 10th October, people around the world will observe World Homeless Day.
World Homeless Day is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the needs of those experiencing homelessness and encouraging local communities to take action.
For the first time, the Government of Jersey is making available reliable data on the nature and scale of homelessness in Jersey.
The Homelessness in Jersey Report, Second Quarter 2024 has been published by the Housing Minister. The Report can be read here: Homelessness in Jersey Report: Second Quarter 2024.
Tackling the issue of homelessness in Jersey is one of the Housing Minister’s priorities and part of the Homelessness Strategy.
Earlier this year, the Minister launched a project to improve the collection of evidence on homelessness in Jersey, drawing together data from organisations in Jersey who assist people who are homeless or facing homelessness. The organisations who have reported their data and will continue to do so every quarter, in an anonymised format, so up to date reports can be created, are:
- The Shelter Trust
- FREEDA (formerly the Women’s Refuge)
- The Sanctuary Trust, and
- The Government of Jersey’s Housing Advice Service (HAS)
Some of the themes to emerge in the first report are:
- There were 220 service visits by 204 Islanders to homeless accommodation and service providers;
- Issues of houselessness, with 180 Islanders living in temporary shelter accommodation;
- Instances where people are living in insecure/vulnerable housing situations, including the threat of eviction and domestic abuse
- The difference between the issues raised by, and requirements of, men and women. The report shows that homelessness was highest among men at 75% of recorded, with women comprising 25% of recorded cases.
- Substance use (alcohol and drug use) is the main recorded reason for homelessness amongst males at 14%.
- At risk of, has experience of, or escaping domestic abuse is the main reason for homelessness amongst females at 39%.
- 85 per cent of homeless Islanders referred to in the report have ‘Entitled’ residential status.
Commenting on the publication of the first quarterly report, Housing Minister Deputy Sam Mézec, said: “For a number of years, there has been a lack of meaningful data available regarding the situation in Jersey regarding homelessness. This has made it hard to fully and accurately understand the scale and nature of the issue in Jersey.
“The creation and implementation of this first homelessness report brings together data from different organisations in the Island, who support Islanders who are in situations concerning homelessness. The reporting of this data will provide a deeper understanding of the level of demand on different providers and how they respond to the issue of homelessness.
“It also gives us a better understanding of the service user’s journey and their engagement with the organisation they are in contact with and what their outcomes are.”
The Minister added: “I am deeply grateful to the agencies who have taken time to work with my team to provide data, which allow us all to develop a broader, richer, deeper understanding of this issue so that informed and useful policy can be created to tackle the issues surrounding homelessness. It is however, always important to remember that behind the statistics, there are many individual stories, and we must always remember the very human nature of this issue.”
This year, Sanctuary Trust aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness in Jersey, a reality that many islanders may not recognise. Since being founded in 2011, Sanctuary Trust has provided vital support, helping over 350 men in crisis through services such as emergency accommodation, counselling, and outreach programs.
In conjunction with World Homeless Day, Tim Ringsdore, Chair of Sanctuary Trust, is announcing Tim’s week without a home, a personal challenge in March 2025. For 1 week, Tim will experience life without a permanent home, sleeping outside whilst carrying out his normal responsibilities, visiting Sanctuary House for meals and a cup of tea just as other men that Sanctuary support do. He will also live on a budget similar to what individuals receiving income support receive. Tim will document his challenge and hopes to raise funds and awareness about the realities of homelessness. Following the success of Tim’s 2023 fundraiser, when he slept outside in all 12 parishes in Jersey, Sanctuary Trust are delighted that Tim has set himself this new challenge.
Tim said: “I’ve been looking for a new challenge to raise awareness of the growing crisis we have in the Island with homelessness, so we asked our residents to give this some thought and they came up with the idea of me spending a week sleeping rough and living off the weekly income that people in receipt of income support receive. I know at the end of the week, I will return home, which is a luxury many do not have. This challenge is therefore about recognising, not replicating, what it’s like not to have a place to call home. I hope that it will provide me with a deeper understanding about the daily challenges members of our society experience and if this helps raise more awareness and much needed funds it will be well worthwhile”
Sanctuary Trust will be hosting its annual Sleep Out on Friday, 22nd November at Pier Road car park. More information about the fundraising event can be found here.
