Rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, however being homeless can also mean living in unsafe, unsuitable or unstable accommodation, or ‘sofa surfing’ between friends' or relatives' house (sometimes called hidden homelessness).

Each person’s story is unique - however, we know that there are factors which can contribute to why people find themselves facing homelessness.  Societal drivers of homelessness include a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment.  Life events and personal problems can also push people towards homelessness for example relationship breakdowns, transition such as leaving care or the army, escaping domestic abuse, physical or mental poor health, and substance misuse issues. Sometimes people face a complex mix of factors which are exacerbated by wider social and economic factors. However, homelessness whilst complex, is not inevitable. The best way to end homelessness is to prevent it happening in the first place with the right support. These chapters will help you understand the key drivers for homelessness, the importance of early intervention and collaborative prevention work, and the legal context.