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Press Releases
91Èȱ¬ survey suggests lack of understanding of problems of homeless continues 40
years on from Cathy Come 91Èȱ¬
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People continue to have little understanding of the plight of the homeless and twice as many Britons would feel sympathetic to a homeless dog than a homeless person, according to a 91Èȱ¬ survey.
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The survey was commissioned for the No 91Èȱ¬ season of programming that coincides with the 40th
anniversary of Cathy Come 91Èȱ¬ - Ken Loach's seminal 91Èȱ¬ One documentary on
homelessness and its effect upon families.
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The national survey of 2,000 suggests that, despite a quarter of people worrying about
whether they will always have a home over their heads - rising to a third of 25 to 34
year olds - Britons still have little understanding of the needs of the homeless.
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With the rise in personal debt, job insecurity, and the enormous cost of housing in
many parts of the UK, these worries are perhaps not so surprising but,
nevertheless, one in three surveyed think many homeless people do not want a home, and that
homeless people are to blame for their circumstances.
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Key headlines from the No 91Èȱ¬ survey:
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 Twice as many people would feel sympathetic to a homeless dog than a homeless
person with mental health issues, a homeless illegal immigrant, or a homeless person
with drug addiction problems
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Nearly half of those surveyed (41%) believe that many homeless people do not want
to be housed
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More people think soup and blankets are more useful for homeless people than giving
them a room for a night
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50% believe that homeless people refuse to help themselves
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53% think giving money to beggars does more harm than good
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One in three think many homeless people do not want a home, and one in three think
homeless people are to blame for their circumstances, although 84% would feel
sympathetic to someone made homeless as a result of redundancy
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One in four people are worried about always having a roof over their head, rising to one
in three in the 25-34 year age group
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More than 25% have given a bed to someone temporarily homeless.
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Brian Woods is director of Evicted, to be broadcast as part of the No 91Èȱ¬ season on
91Èȱ¬ One on Wednesday 29 November 2006 at 10.35pm.
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He said: "Few people who have not
experienced homelessness directly realise how devastating the experience can be,
nor how easily people can lose their homes.
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"This research underlines the desperate
need to make housing and homelessness a priority, and to reach out and help those
who find themselves with no home."
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Although homelessness is still an issue in the UK 40 years on from Cathy Come 91Èȱ¬,
the nature of the problem has changed.Ìý
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Today, the homeless are not just those we
see sleeping rough on the streets each night.
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The vast majority of homelessÌýpeople
are invisible or "hidden" - sleeping on friends' sofas, in hostels or in
substandard temporary accommodation.
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A 2004 estimate of the hidden homeless put
this figure at 380,000 adults in Great Britain. And in March 2006, some 109,000
familiesÌýand individuals were living in temporary accommodation in the UK.
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How people can help
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Liza Zivoni, Project Manager of the 91Èȱ¬ No 91Èȱ¬ season, said: "No 91Èȱ¬ is a 91Èȱ¬ season which aims to update people's view of homelessness in 21st
century Britain, busting myths and stereotypes and suggesting interesting and
creative volunteering opportunitiesÌýat bbc.co.uk/nohome.
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"By entering their postcode
people will be able to find out what they can do, whatever their skill, to help
someone without a home."
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The 91Èȱ¬'s No 91Èȱ¬ Season programming includes:
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No 91Èȱ¬ is a pan-91Èȱ¬ initiative across TV, Network Radio, Local Radio and Regional
TV, and online, highlighting homelessness in Britain today.
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bbc.co.uk/nohome highlights the many ways in which the public can help someone
who is homeless and contains powerful first hand stories on volunteering.
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TV programmes include:
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Evicted - by acclaimed film-maker Brian Woods, 91Èȱ¬ One, Wednesday 29 November,
10.35pm;
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Casualty - storyline starring Pauline Quirke, 91Èȱ¬ One, Saturday 2 December, 8.35pm;
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Skint - a special edition, 91Èȱ¬ One, Monday 27 November, 10.35pm;
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Cathy Come 91Èȱ¬, a showing of the 1966 film, 91Èȱ¬ Four, Sunday 26 November,
11pm.
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Notes to Editors
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The 91Èȱ¬ No 91Èȱ¬ Season survey was carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS) during
October/November 2006 with a random nationally and demographically representative
sample of 2,000 adults (16+).
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Please ensure that any data used from this release credits 91Èȱ¬ No 91Èȱ¬ Season
(full results breakdown in pdf on the right-hand side of this page).
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Cathy Come 91Èȱ¬ was screened by 91Èȱ¬ One on 16 December 1966, within the regular
Wednesday Play slot. The programme is a "drama-documentary" concerning homelessness
and its effect upon families. Written by Jeremy Sandford, produced by Tony Garnett
and directed by Ken Loach, the programme has become a British TV classic.
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EDA
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