Dave said he regularly moves around different parts of Liverpool, reports the Echo.

A homeless Liverpool man whose hammock has been spotted hanging from lampposts and trees across the city said he feels safer sleeping outdoors than in emergency accommodation. Dave, 35, from Fazakerley, has become a familiar sight in parks and green spaces around Liverpool after setting up his hammock in locations including Sefton Park, Otterspool Promenade, and Litherland.

Some passers-by may assume he is simply making the most of the warm weather, but the reality is very different. Dave has been homeless for more than a year after what he described as a “long string of events” following an incident at work that led to a breakdown. He told the ECHO: “I ended up on the streets maybe a year or so ago. I’m just trying to get back off the streets, but it’s been a bit of a nightmare, to be honest with you.”

Dave said he regularly moves around different parts of Liverpool and rarely stays in one place for long, instead seeking out quiet spots where he can safely set up his hammock. He said: “I’m everywhere really. Sefton Park, Otterspool Prom, it changes every day. It’s wherever I find a bit of peace and quiet.” The lightweight hammock has become an essential part of daily life after Dave found carrying a tent too difficult. He said: “The hammock is a lot cooler in this weather. The tent was just too much to carry around. This folds down and can go in the pocket of my coat. I don’t really have many belongings, so it’s lightweight.”

Some people recognise that he is homeless, while others simply assume he is relaxing outdoors. Despite his circumstances, Dave says many people react positively when they see him. He said: “A lot of people think it’s great. I always get people stopping and talking. I think some of them may think I’m homeless, and I think some of them probably think I’m just enjoying a bit of the sun.”

Dave said he has sought support from Liverpool’s homelessness services and other organisations but feels frustrated by the options available to him. He said he has been offered hostel and dormitory-style accommodation, but does not feel comfortable staying there. He said: “They’re not the nicest of places. They attract a lot of bad types of people. You don’t know what type of people are in there, I wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’d much rather find a quiet spot and be tucked away on my own. I feel much safer on the streets in a hammock than I would in one of those places.”

Instead, Dave heads away from busy city centre areas and looks for secluded locations where he can spend the night. He said: “I tend to head out of Liverpool a bit because the city is packed. I either go down the woods or anywhere I can find slightly out of Liverpool. I feel as safe as can be once I’m in it.”

While Dave admits his situation is far from ideal, he said he remains determined to stay positive. He said: “It’s not the best situation to be in. But it could be worse. At least I’m lying out in the sun.”

A man launched an attack on two homeless people before pulling out a large knife, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The shocking incident happened at around 11.30am on Sunday, June 14, on Houghton Street in Liverpool city centre. A woman was left with a bloodied nose after being struck in the face, while a second man was also assaulted.

Matthew Harris, 56, was visiting Liverpool with his wife when he witnessed the incident unfold. Speaking to the Echo, he said: “We were about to head back to the Holiday Inn when we saw a homeless woman sitting on a cushion on the floor. This man approached her and I honestly thought he was going to give her some money. The next thing, he lunged at her and hit her in the face with a wooden stick. He was pushing the end of the stick into her nose and striking her in the face. We were completely shocked. We couldn’t understand why he was doing it.”

Matthew, from Newcastle, said the man then walked away before targeting another homeless person nearby. “He carried on down the street and turned into a nearby square where there was another homeless man sitting in a tent in a doorway. That’s when he hit him with the stick as well,” he said. The man got up and then the attacker pulled out this huge knife. It looked about eight inches long. When he pulled the knife out, I thought, he’s already hurt someone with a stick – what’s he going to do with that?”

Realising a police van had been parked nearby, Matthew ran to alert officers. “We’d just been shopping by Primark and I remembered seeing a police van. I thought it would be much quicker than calling 999, so I ran back to tell them what had happened. Before the police arrived, some young Asian lads had managed to tackle him and get the knife away from him. You normally see things like this on the telly or YouTube, but seeing it happen right in front of you is chilling.”

After returning to their hotel to drop off their shopping, Matthew and his wife later saw the woman who had been injured. “We asked if she was okay and she said she was, but she had blood all over her nose. I assume the police asked if she wanted medical treatment, but she must have wanted to stay where she was.” He added: “I’m just grateful nobody was seriously hurt. If the police hadn’t been so close by, it could have escalated very quickly.”

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We arrested and charged a man and seized a knife following an incident in Liverpool city centre on Sunday, June 14. At around 11.30am, officers were called to St John’s Shopping Centre after a man was detained following reports he had assaulted a woman and a man on nearby Houghton Street, causing minor injuries. A knife was seized, although it was not used during the assaults. Scott Gledhill, 49, of Sterling Way, Kirkdale, was charged with two counts of assault by beating, possession of a knife in a public place and affray.”

Gledhill appeared before Sefton Magistrates Court on Monday, June 15, where he pleaded guilty to assault by beating, possession of a bladed article in a public place and affray. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on July 13.

Sharon Hodgson, parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Department for Health and Social Care, writes in the Big Issue about why the government is giving free flu vaccines to people facing homelessness.

Every person across the country is rightly entitled to healthcare. But accessing it can be a lot harder for those experiencing homelessness. Illnesses like flu can be particularly serious for homeless people due to existing health problems, being exposed to cold and damp weather, and difficulty getting healthcare. This government is committed to ending homelessness, which is why we’ve ended no fault evictions through the Renters’ Rights Bill, committed to building 1.5 million new homes – including the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, and why we’ve given councils across the country £84 million to provide more support for thousands of people in temporary accommodation.

That is also why, this autumn, the NHS will offer free flu vaccinations to people experiencing homelessness in England – focussing on those sleeping rough or staying in hostels and night shelters. It is a practical step to protect a group at high risk of serious respiratory illness who are too often left behind.

Because the reality is stark. People experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience poorer access to healthcare, worse health outcomes, and to die younger. Respiratory infections like flu contribute to this. And yet, despite facing risks equal to – or in some cases greater than – those already eligible for vaccination, too many have been underserved by services that many of us take for granted. That is not just a gap in provision. It is an injustice.

Through our 10 Year Health Plan, this government has been clear that we will not accept a system where who you are or where you come from determines your chances of staying well. We are building an NHS that tackles inequalities head on – and works for everyone. Expanding access to flu vaccination for people experiencing homelessness is part of delivering on that promise. The flu jab is safe, free, and offers the best protection against a virus that can be serious for people already facing tough conditions. It follows expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which recognises the very high levels of poor health among people sleeping rough and their increased risk from diseases like flu. But this is not just about eligibility. It is about access.

We know that people experiencing homelessness can face real barriers to healthcare – from not being registered with a GP, to struggling to attend appointments, to navigating services that were simply not designed with their circumstances in mind. If we are serious about reducing inequalities, we cannot expect people to fit around systems that do not work for them. We must design services that reach people where they are. That means working closely with outreach teams, hostels, and frontline organisations that are already supporting people day in, day out. It means making vaccination simple, accessible, and delivered in trusted settings. And it means recognising that small, practical changes – like offering a flu jab in a place someone already visits – can make a life-saving difference.

There is also a wider benefit. Increasing vaccination among vulnerable groups helps to reduce the spread of flu across communities, preventing avoidable illness, reducing hospitalisations and easing pressure on the NHS during the most challenging time of the year. In other words, protecting those most at risk helps protect us all. But at its heart, this is about fairness and dignity. Because behind every statistic is a person – someone navigating incredibly difficult circumstances, someone who deserves the same chance to stay well as anyone else.

For too long, people experiencing homelessness have been missed by services many of us rely on without a second thought. This change is about putting that right. By making sure vulnerable groups can access free flu vaccinations on the NHS, we are taking a clear, practical step to ensure they are not overlooked – and that they receive the same potentially life-saving protection as other at-risk groups. This is how we’re building an NHS that reaches people where they are, tackling inequality at its root, and works for everyone. This winter, we are making a simple choice. To act.

Hidden homeless women are being missed from official figures, reports the BBC.

“When people used to see me, they didn’t believe I was homeless,” Victoria says. She did not look like a rough sleeper and did not drink or take drugs. “So it was hard for people to believe that I was actually homeless.” For three years, she roamed London’s streets, often around King’s Cross railway station. Mental health problems contributed to her homelessness, but being on the streets exacerbated them. “I wasn’t sleeping because I had lots of luggage and King’s Cross is bad for thieves,” the 31-year-old says. “If I tried to sleep in the toilets, the staff would come banging on the door, telling me to get out. It was hard.” Passing herself off as just another passenger meant it was harder to spot Victoria’s homelessness. But the station’s busyness and its security cameras gave her a greater sense of security, as did the constant presence of staff and police officers.

A new survey suggests there are more women like Victoria in England than ever before. A women’s rough sleeping census carried out by two charities – Solace Women’s Aid and the Single Homeless Project – found that 1,406 women had slept rough in the previous three months. Where the numbers were able to be compared to official government data, the census found 10 times as many female rough sleepers.

Patrolling King’s Cross and the surrounding streets, homeless outreach workers Eabha and Elise say they find women in unexpected places. “They can be really tucked away in parks, behind the bushes,” says Elise. Eabha adds that overnight, some women might be on night buses or trains.

“Places like A&E can be quite popular spots, just sitting there and hopefully not be moved on,” she says. At times, when Victoria’s homelessness became more obvious, the consequences could be severe. “I had people vomit next to me or peeing next to me,” she says. “And the minute a man knows you are homeless, it’s like ‘let me take advantage’. Men were harassing me, they’d just put their hands around me, touch me.”

The census, which was carried out over a week in September 2025, uncovered the women by working with all 33 London councils and 68 others across England, amounting to a third of all local authorities. While the official government snapshot for autumn 2025 found 733 women were rough sleeping on a single night across England, the charities’ research found almost double that number had slept rough in the previous three months in the boroughs they patrolled. The census total includes 162 female rough sleepers in six local authority areas where the official data recorded none.

“As a woman rough sleeper, you’re far, far less likely to be discovered rough sleeping and that’s your route into services, into support, into accommodation,” says Lucy Campbell from the Single Homeless Project. “What follows is that it’s actually much more difficult for women to get services and get support.” The charities say that two thirds of the women recorded in the census would not have been captured using the government’s method of counting rough sleepers. The official statistics are essentially the number of people sleeping or about to bed down in the open air or in buildings not designated for habitation, such as car parks, on a single night.

By including a broader range of places and using the insights of local councils, the charities believe they have devised a more accurate picture of female rough sleeping. “We have said time and again, that services do not meet the needs of women, but systems are yet to change,” says Rebecca Goshawk from Solace Women’s Aid. “Domestic abuse is the primary cause of women’s rough sleeping, making support in this area essential to the government’s promise to halve violence against women and girls within the next decade. Decision-makers need to take action to fulfil their promises on women’s safety.”

The government has pledged to halve long-term rough sleeping in England by the end of the Parliament. The charities behind this survey argue that the aim can’t be achieved if ministers don’t know the extent of the problem and want the definition of rough sleeping to be amended to reflect women’s experiences. Homelessness Minister Alison McGovern told the BBC: “No one should have to endure rough sleeping, and as this census outlines, women can have different experiences and needs.” She added the government was “working with councils to support women into suitable accommodation and investing £3.6 billion to end homelessness for good”.

Centrepoint warns young people facing ‘huge scarcity of work opportunities’ after Alan Milburn’s report on crisis, reports the Guardian.

The growing number of young people not in work or education is driving more into unstable housing or homelessness, charities have said. A government-commissioned review into the crisis facing young people in the UK said there could be a 25% rise in young people not in education, employment or training (Neet) to 1.25 million by the early 2030s without intervention. Alan Milburn, its author, said the “instability of worklessness” was increasing the risk of young people ending up homeless and “deteriorating outcomes” for people who were already disadvantaged. Almost 124,000 young people were homeless or at risk of homelessness in the UK in 2024-25, a 6% increase on the previous year and the third consecutive year numbers had risen. In the north-west, where youth homelessness is highest, it rose by more than a third. The Big Issue said there had been a 60% increase in vendors aged 18 to 24 since 2022, up from 449 to 720.

In the past two years, Josh, 23, has applied for hundreds of jobs while struggling to keep a roof over his head. “It might even be over a thousand,” he said. “I’d be applying for jobs for six hours straight in one night. Then getting maybe one reply and one interview every six months, just to get rejected at the last step. You feel like there’s something about you that is a problem. It can really affect your self-image.” Josh lives in supported housing run by Centrepoint, a youth homelessness charity. It has warned that as the number of Neets has surged, young people are being locked out of the private rental market, and into unstable housing. Lisa Doyle, the head of policy and public affairs at the charity, said: “There is a huge scarcity of work opportunities for young people at the moment. And for those who are having to support themselves, getting a job can really be what allows them to live and to get on. If things go wrong, they don’t have anything to fall back on. It’s a grim situation for young people out there.”

The youth unemployment rate is 14.7% in the UK, its highest level in more than a decade. Britain has the third-highest rate among wealthy European countries of 16- to 24-year-olds who are neither earning nor learning. John Bird, a founder of the Big Issue and a crossbench peer, said young people were facing mounting cost-of-living pressures against a backdrop of declining employment opportunities. “But we must also acknowledge the role that growing poverty is playing in this crisis, and ensure that solutions are built with that in mind,” he said.

Josh said he had started to struggle financially after losing his job in a bar. Family breakdown meant he had nowhere to live, forcing him on to the streets. As work dried up, the battle to find affordable housing got worse and his mental health deteriorated. “I was looking for anything, even jobs that were miles away. I guess if you’re beaten down enough, you’ll try anything,” he said. “I’d love my own space but it just feels out of reach without a proper job. And I don’t feel like I have permission to do things that I enjoy doing. I’m always waiting for the moment I’m going to have work. The lack of money doesn’t just stop you from owning stuff, it also stops you from feeling whole. If you can’t go out and even afford the bus to go to where your friends are, what are you supposed to do?” He’s about to start a barista training course, which he hopes will lead to more stable work, and has long-term ambitions to become a scriptwriter.

Doyle said: “Lots of the public discussion about this often seems to lay the blame at the feet of young people and that must be really, really frustrating. Young people can’t create jobs. Our advisers are talking to lots of employers who are getting hundreds of applications for entry-level jobs and only one person’s going to get that.”

Faye, 22, an aspiring photographer, spent her teenage years in the care system and said the struggle to find a stable income amid a jobs shortage, while also trying to find somewhere to live in a housing crisis felt impossible. After leaving college, she took on short-term jobs at a sweet shop and Costa Coffee, and then a paid work-experience placement at Pret, but the unstable nature of the work and pay led her to fall behind on her rent. “It was about £800 of debt and I really struggled to get a job after that to pay it off,” she said. “It’s frustrating because the government wants us to have jobs and there’s a whole narrative out there saying young people can’t be bothered to work. But it’s the actual stress and struggle of trying to apply for a job, and not getting the job or there just not being enough of them or you don’t have the experience. But where do you get that experience, unless you start working from the age of 10?”

Faye has been living in Centrepoint’s supported accommodation for nearly three years, and is looking for work while hoping to return to college to study photography after a previous course she was due to start got cancelled. She has spent more than a year on the waiting list for a social home despite being categorised as high priority because she is a care leaver. But she said even if young people did find a home, they still needed a job. We are on the high-priority list for housing, but what about jobs?” she said. “What about employment? What about college courses for us to get the careers we want and the apprenticeships? How can we afford to pay rent without that?”