Homeless Link
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Lowest earners three times more likely to suffer from poor sleep
Security of housing also has a part to play, with those renting more likely to report sleeping badly than homeowners.
The survey illustrates the significant impact that lack of sleep has on people’s wellbeing. 81% of respondents felt that lack of sleep seriously impacted their overall health, wellbeing and happiness. 58% reported relationship with family and friends being affected and almost half (48%) said their productivity at work had been affected.
Commissioned by the StreetLink rough sleeping service, the poll coincides with the launch of a campaign to help connect the estimated 2,400 people who sleep rough every night in England with support.
Evidence suggests that prolonged rough sleeping is bad for your health, with 8 in 10 of those who have slept on the streets reporting physical and mental health issues.
In the poll, stress (50%), noise (28%) and temperature (25%) were the top reasons for trouble sleeping, but financial stability is again a factor. 36% of those with the lowest incomes cite financial worries as the main reason for trouble sleeping, compared to 16% of the highest earners.
The #SleepWell campaign urges the public to contact StreetLink whenever they see someone sleeping rough this winter. StreetLink is an England-wide phone-line, website and mobile app which enables the public to alert local services if they are concerned about someone sleeping rough and help connect them with support.
Run by the charities Homeless Link and St. Mungo’s Broadway and funded by Government, StreetLink has connected 8,669 individuals to local services since it was launched in December 2012.
Commenting on the findings, Rick Henderson, Chief Executive of Homeless Link, said:
“We all know what it feels like to not get a good night’s sleep, and the barriers highlighted by this poll are faced by those on the streets every single night. This winter, as temperatures drop and the weather turns, we urge people to consider how well they would sleep if they were on the streets.
“Many people sleeping rough are unaware that local help may be available to them. By contacting StreetLink you can help make that connection and ensure they receive the support they need to leave homelessness behind.”
StreetLink is England’s only free phone-line, website and mobile app that allows members of the public to send an alert when they see someone sleeping rough and connect them to local services. Call 0300 500 0914, visit www.streetlink.org.uk or download the app for Apple and Android devices.
Download the StreetLink anniversary report below.
StreetLink has been running for two years. This report highlights what the service and its supporters have achieved in that time.
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