The cost of living crisis has exacerbated the growing numbers of people experiencing homelessness in the UK. With accommodation prices rising, an increasing number of people are struggling to find steady work and a roof over their heads. We look at 5 of the best places in the UK to find homeless jobs.
Top 5 UK Cities To Find Homeless Jobs
Finding work after (or while) experiencing homelessness can be tough. From CV gaps to personal hygiene challenges, there are a lot of barriers that can hold you back. That said, with the help of organisations such as Beam, more large businesses than ever are employing homeless workers.
We look at 5 of the best cities for homeless jobs in the UK.
1. Brighton
The beautiful seaside town of Brighton is widely known for its pier and diverse culture. However, there is a rising homelessness crisis.
It’s reported that 1 in 78 people are homeless in Brighton and Hove. While that number is less than in places such as Luton, it is cause for concern. Fortunately, local homeless charities are working tirelessly to help people get off the streets and into work.
A prime example of this is BHT’s Accommodation for Work project. The project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and aims to support homeless people in finding employment and independent accommodation. It offers temporary shared accommodation and employment support for single adults in Brighton & Hove.
Residents are assigned a key worker who helps them develop an employment plan, including training and job application tips. They also carry out voluntary work or work placements to upskill and gain experience.
Discover homeless jobs Brighton →
2. Oxford
With some of the highest housing prices in the UK, the number of homeless people in Oxford has risen significantly in recent years. Fortunately, several organisations in the city and Oxfordshire county can support homeless people in finding work.
If you’re experiencing housing problems and you are in the Oxford area, Crisis Skylight Oxford, Homeless Oxfordshire, and The Gatehouse are three local organisations that can help.
Oxford is brimming with coffee shops and independent businesses that often hire staff with little or no previous experience. Alternatively, you could look for work in local construction sites and cleaning companies. While the cost of living is high in Oxford, with the right support, it’s more than possible to find work after homelessness.
Discover homeless jobs Oxford →
3. Glasgow
Glasgow is one of the top cities for employing the homeless in the UK. According to the Simon Community, Glasgow has the lowest number of people sleeping rough in Europe. This has been a result of the tireless effort of the Scottish government and local homeless charities. In 2021, Glasgow recorded fewer than 10 people sleeping rough at any one time. This figure has reduced dramatically since pre-lockdown when the city was seeing between 25-30 rough sleepers.
Glasgow is home to some of the UK’s most well-known social entrepreneurs, such as the founder of Homes4Good, Susan Aketemel. Susan started her first social business, Impact Arts, back in 1994. Then, in 2014, she started a new social venture, Homes4Good. It’s Scotland’s first social enterprise letting agency that manages a portfolio of homes for people in need of social housing.
Discover homeless jobs Glasgow →
4. Edinburgh
The cost of living crisis has seen a rise in homelessness in Scotland’s second city. Fortunately, organisations such as Four Square and Crisis Edinburgh offer support in finding work and accommodation.
There has also been a rise in social businesses that actively hire homeless workers. One example of this is the high street sandwich shop Social Bite. Social Bite started out as a small coffee shop in Edinburgh in 2012. After a local homeless man came into the shop one day and asked for a job, the owners agreed to take him on in the kitchen. He fast became a valued team member, prompting the business to offer more jobs to people experiencing housing problems.
The business then introduced a “Pay it Forward” system in its cafes allowing customers to buy food in advance for local homeless people. The business is now one of the biggest employers of people experiencing homelessness and has shops in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and London.
5. London
The UK capital may have some of the highest numbers of rough sleepers, but you can also find a wide array of jobs for homeless people. Local homeless charities, such as Homeless Link and The Big Issue, are just two organisations that support people experiencing housing problems in London.
London is also home to some trailblazing businesses that actively employ people who have experienced homelessness. For instance, the London-based event staging company Connection Crew. Originally set up as an experiment by homelessness charity The Connection at St Martins-in-the-Fields, the social business now has a 1 in 4 ex-homeless recruitment policy.
Due to the demanding nature of the work, the company only hires people who are currently in stable accommodation. They must also have successfully completed rehabilitation if they suffered from addiction in the past.
Discover homeless jobs London→
Of course, not everyone experiencing homelessness is in the position to move to a new city to find work. If your city isn’t on our list, rest assured that there are homeless job opportunities all across the UK.
Check out our homeless jobs board to find the latest opportunities in your area.
How We Can Help You Find Homeless Jobs
If you’re a job seeker currently experiencing housing problems, our experts at Refreshing a Career can help. Here are just some of the services we offer:
- Connect with homeless employers – Find company profiles from top homeless employers in the UK.
- Support homeless job seekers – If you are a homeless job seeker, you’ll find a range of support and resources to help you with your job hunt. We cover everything from education and training to funding to job application tips for homeless people. Find the latest advice on our weekly blog.
- Find homeless jobs – You can also browse the latest opportunities on our homeless jobs board.
Are you an employer looking to employ homeless people? Refreshing a Career can help. Call 03458724501 or email info@refreshingacareer.com to learn more about our services.
