Leading homelessness charity ALABARÉ can reveal new statistics highlighting the intrinsic links between homelessness and poor mental health, and the importance of wraparound support for people at risk.
The findings of a nationally representative survey, commissioned by the charity and carried out by Censuswide, are being published today (Tuesday, 8 September 2026).
A total of 2,500 people over the age of 18 were surveyed across the country, including 500 respondents in ALABARÉ’s heartland area of the South West.
The charity has more than 80 properties in the region and in North and South Wales, providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds.
What did the survey indicate?
The survey asked respondents if they agreed with a statement that poor mental health and homelessness are linked and often reinforce each other.
More than two-thirds (69%) said they did agree that there’s a definitive link, with just over a quarter (26%) saying they ‘strongly agree’ with the statement.
Participants were also asked to consider which societal groups they believed were more likely to be at risk of experiencing homelessness, while also having connected mental health concerns.
The top six answers given by the British public were people experiencing poverty (34%), veterans (25%), men (17%), young people and care leavers (15%), people with learning disabilities (17%) and neurodiverse individuals (13%).
Interestingly, the groups listed are all sections of the community that are reflected in ALABARÉ’s focal areas of support – providing homes, restoring hearts, and empowering minds for those whom the public perceives need it the most.
Why are we in a mental health crisis?
Half of Brits (54%) have experienced or know someone who’s experienced poor mental health. 60% of those were speaking from first-hand accounts.
41% believe it’s due to the rising cost of living and financial insecurity; 35% gave loneliness as a reason.
The survey also revealed that when combined homelessness and mental health concerns aren’t properly addressed, 52% of Britons believe it has the largest impact on the NHS and emergency services, with 36% recognising the effect on local communities and a fifth (21%) saying that the voluntary and charity sector is most affected.
What factors are perceived to be behind homelessness?
13% of people surveyed stated that they have experienced housing insecurity, and 1 in 10 said they had personally faced homelessness at some point in their life.
The perceived causes of homelessness were listed by respondents as job loss (29%), mental health concerns (28%), and relationship breakdown (23%), with the second most highlighted reason by the public (32%) being housing costs and a lack of affordable housing.
In reality, the cost of rent and a shortage of affordable properties are the biggest causes of homelessness in the UK, according to statistics from Crisis, Shelter and the Government.
The most common answer given in the survey, chosen by 35% of participants, was the link to addiction.
While just over half of ALABARÉ’s clients (55%) report alcohol or substance use when entering the charity’s services, it is a misconception that addiction is the most prevalent factor in causing someone to need additional support.
The clearest link between the risk of homelessness and mental health concerns is financial insecurity.
Britons surveyed believed that homelessness, coupled with mental health concerns, could also increase the risk of suicide or self-harm (35%), worsen physical health (33%), cause a loss of hope and confidence (31%), increase the likelihood of exposure to exploitation and abuse (30%) and isolate them from family and friends (28%).
The findings throughout the survey show the importance of ensuring the risk of homelessness and mental health issues are considered equally when help is offered to individuals, through person-centred, trauma-informed support.
This aligns with ALABARÉ’s mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness, recognising that housing concerns are just one part of a person’s journey, taking other factors into account during a client’s route towards independence, sustainability and improved confidence.
What happens next?
ALABARÉ is to host a webinar next month (Thursday 8 October) highlighting the survey’s findings, with input from partners in the homelessness and mental health spheres, to assess how charities can provide better support for people affected.
The survey also found that 2 in 5 would consider donating to ALABARÉ or similar causes in the future, while 30% said they would be open to volunteering.
The support of the public is vital in helping organisations with their efforts to improve the lives and outcomes of their clients.
Andrew Lord, Chief Executive of ALABARÉ, said:
“The findings within our survey make for difficult reading, as they lay bare the factors having a real impact on people, and the deep links between housing insecurity and mental health challenges. It’s a correlation that we have been acutely aware of at ALABARÉ for many years through our frontline services. But seeing that the public also recognises that reassures us that we’re on the right track with the support being offered.
“It also shows the need for improved support that looks at the whole person, not just the issue presenting at any given time. We’d like to see charities working more closely together to ensure people are supported in every way they need. We’d also call on the Government to stick to its pledges of building more social housing, transforming mental health services, and preventing rough sleeping, as all those steps will support efforts to provide wraparound care and a smoother housing pathway to break the cycle of homelessness.”
