Funders and homelessness charities have been encouraged to prioritise increased pay and conditions for sector workers after many reported facing exhaustion in research published today.
In response to St Martin-in-the-Fields’ survey of over 1,000 frontline workers employed by fellow homelessness charities and local authorities, 57% said that they felt “at risk of burnout”.
Increased demand for homelessness services, as well as shortages of frontline staff and accommodation, have put “huge pressure” on those working in the sector, according to the research.
Low pay is noted as a factor placing strain on many workers, with only 34% of respondents saying that their remuneration was sufficient to cover their living costs.
Some 27%, meanwhile, reported that they felt hopeful of the future of their jobs in the homelessness support sector, with the research suggesting that many will leave the sector in years to come.
‘Passion doesn’t put food on the table’
St Martin-in-the-Fields called on the government to better support the homelessness workforce with the likes of more manageable caseloads, better pay and progression, and more professional development opportunities.
Duncan Shrubsole, chief executive of the charity, said: “Across the UK, governments and funders need to prioritise and support the homelessness workforce.
“In England, the government has promised a new homelessness strategy – they now need to deliver and fast, with action to ensure accommodation is available and affordable and that vital frontline workers are valued, supported, fairly treated and paid.
“This report shows how committed they are, but without change, we fear too many homelessness workers will be burnt out or leave and too many people will then be left without the help they need.”
Speaking to Civil Society, Shrubsole added that many homelessness charity workers felt a “moral injury” because they could not help as many people as they would like.
Shrubsole also criticised a lack of pay and progression opportunities typically afforded to sector workers.
“Passion doesn’t put food on the table,” he said.
“In the homelessness sector, people think that you can do it on the cheap, that it’s a simple job, but it requires a whole range of skills and experience. Homelessness workers are not viewed as working skilled jobs.”
Shrubsole added that his charity has awarded a cost-of-living increase to its staff this year to combat low pay.
St Martin-in-the-Fields has also created a fund for other charities in the sector to help them invest in how they support the wellbeing and professional development of their staff.
