Richard Hewett, 59, was forced to sleep in his Ford Focus after his relationship broke down, unable to afford a flat on his disability benefits in Essex. He broke his ankle while living in the car, developed sepsis, and had his leg amputated. He described the experience as 'horrendous', citing judgmental passersby and a severe impact on his mental health.
Hewett is part of a rapidly growing cohort of over-55s facing homelessness in the UK. Office for National Statistics figures show 15,690 households headed by over-65s are at risk of homelessness, a 79% increase in five years. Charities report rising numbers of older people seeking help, with rough sleeping among over-55s in London rising from 450 to 713 between early 2024 and end of 2025.
Sarah Elliott, chief executive of Shelter, said the charity is increasingly hearing from older people 'wrenched from tight-knit communities' and placed in dismal temporary accommodation. She called for limits on in-tenancy rent hikes and a new generation of social rent homes to ensure dignity in old age.
Jonathan Tan, chief executive of Greater Change, noted that the median age of those supported by his charity has risen by over eight years in four years. He said older clients are rarely pushed into homelessness by a single event, but by a combination of loss, ill health, financial pressure, and systemic gaps, compounded by rising costs and complex online benefits systems.
Jess Harris, a homelessness researcher at King's College London, identified two main cohorts: those with long-term multiple adversities, and those recently pushed into temporary homelessness. She highlighted an under-researched 'social care gap' that fails to prevent and manage complex health problems among older homeless people.
