Homelessness as State harm: a critical policy review

This article provides a critical review of key UK policies from 2010 onwards affecting rough sleeping in England. The rough-sleeping crisis in England began approximately a decade ago. This coincided with policy reform beginning under the 2010 Coalition Government and the later Conservative Government. What followed was a host of policy reforms, in particular the introduction of Universal Credit and a rise of those at risk of homelessness and ultimately rough sleeping. The impact of policy and legislation is not just economic, with behaviours associated with those living on the streets becoming increasingly controlled and criminalised. This article explores concepts of State harm and control and utilises examples of collective activism and resistance, to facilitate an analysis of the impact of institutional power on rough-sleeping populations, rather than arguing the individual is responsible for their homelessness. Coupled with increasing control and stigmatisation in urban spaces rough sleepers find their behaviour increasingly criminalised and surveilled. This work contributes to the current discourse through providing possible solutions to the rough-sleeping crisis, drawing on the recommendations of charities working most closely with at-risk service users. While the causes of rough sleeping are complex and cannot be explained in a vacuum this article interrogates policy reform pre-pandemic, and concludes State policy and legislation have been more harmful than helpful.