Diversity in older age - older homelessness

The characteristics of older homelessness can change rapidly over time and may differ significantly from place to place. This review will focus on older homelessness in England. In England older homelessness is currently on the increase and the number of older street-homeless has doubled in the five years from 2010 to 2015. The European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS) provides a useful framework within which to consider homelessness. ETHOS sees a home as having three domains – an adequate living space which is accessible only to the household who live within it (Physical Domain); a living space in which a household can enjoy privacy and their emotional life (Social Domain); and a living space which a household has a legal title to occupy (Legal Domain).