The air is thick with the scent of damp concrete, mingled with the acrid tang of last night’s spilled beer. The streetlights flicker overhead, casting fractured shadows on the pavement below. A figure curls beneath a tattered sleeping bag, pressed tight against the doorway of a closed café, seeking refuge from the bitter wind that whistles through the alleyways. The hum of the city continues, indifferent, as people pass by—some with a glance, most without.
This is home.
In the heart of our cities, beneath the glow of shopfronts and amidst the bustle of daily life, lies a stark reality often overlooked. As of autumn 2024, an estimated 4,667 individuals were sleeping rough on any given night in England—a 20% increase from the previous year and a 164% rise since 2010.
A Glimpse into Their World
Imagine perusing property listings and encountering the following:
Property: “Cozy Corner Behind the High Street Bins”
- Description: Offers shelter from the wind and proximity to discarded food.
- Amenities: None.
- Safety: High risk due to frequent disturbances and potential for harm.
Property: “Underpass Alcove Near the Motorway”
- Description: Concrete flooring with constant noise.
- Amenities: Occasional warmth from passing vehicles.
- Safety: Low; exposure to elements and passerby threats.
The Reality Behind the Listings
These ‘listings’ reflect the harsh environments many rough sleepers endure. The majority are male (83%), but women, who often remain less visible due to safety concerns, are also significantly affected. Factors leading to such circumstances include relationship breakdowns, unemployment, and systemic barriers in welfare support.
What’s Included?
Every listing comes with:
- Property Images: Photographs of real locations used by rough sleepers.
- Detailed Descriptions: A breakdown of ‘amenities’—such as shelter from the wind, access to warmth from a vent, or the presence of security risks.
- Local Insights: The risks and realities of each location, including safety concerns and the struggle to remain unseen.
Where You’ll See It
These listings will be displayed:
- In estate agents’ shop windows alongside standard property advertisements.
- On housing websites formatted identically to real listings.
- As an online gallery where visitors can scroll through ‘available properties’ and read the real stories behind them.
- At exhibitions and public spaces to engage communities in conversations about homelessness.
A Call to Awareness
Would you live here? Could you call this home?
By presenting rough sleepers’ realities in this way, Homeless Listings challenges public perceptions and highlights the urgent need for real solutions. It asks viewers to reconsider what ‘home’ really means and to push for change.
Because nobody should have to sleep rough. Because everyone deserves a real home.
