Homelessness and Coronavirus

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The message from government over the past 5 weeks has been to “Stay Home,” “Protect the NHS” and to “Save Lives”. These measures have been seen as crucial in the fight to overcome coronavirus. However, for over 300,000 people in the UK, following this guidance is not easy, and for some, it is impossible. There are an estimated 320,000 homeless individuals in the UK. 2019 data suggests that on a “typical night”, 4,266 people were estimated to be sleeping rough on the streets of England (Homeless Link, 2020). During the coronavirus pandemic, this puts those without permanent housing in a unique and dangerous position, and leads to the question: how can homeless people possibly be expected to stay safe during this crisis?

 

Much of the advice and guidance provided by the government is only applicable to the general population. Measures such as staying home, keeping good hygiene practices and social distancing can prove to be almost impossible for those with unstable housing situations. According to the homeless charity Shelter, for “thousands of families with children currently stuck in cramped emergency B&Bs and hostels, it can be almost impossible to follow NHS isolation guidance” (Shelter, 2020).

 

Those residing in crowded temporary housing are not able to socially distance from others, and if one individual in the residence were to contract Covid-19, it puts everyone in the building at high risk. Furthermore, those sleeping rough, are unable to “stay at home”, distance from others or maintain hygiene like regular hand washing. This is not only a problem for physical health, but also for mental health, as the anxiety and fear of being infected is likely to be heightened in crowded situations or when living on the streets.

 

One’s housing situation itself is a social determinant of health, with homeless individuals being more susceptible to health complications because of poor nutrition, compromised immune systems and an increased level of respiratory disorders (Crisis, 2020). Those who sleep rough have a life expectancy 30 years lower than the average person (Office of National Statistics, 2018). Homeless charities are becoming increasingly concerned, that as well as being at higher risk, those without permanent housing may struggle to access the health services they might require during the pandemic (Shelter, 2020).

 

Despite government measures to ensure that all rough sleepers are housed in appropriate emergency accommodation during the coronavirus pandemic, there are a number of challenges that the homeless population still face. Unfortunately, not everyone without a home is eligible for the scheme. Those with certain immigration statuses, such as refused asylum seekers or those who have not formally applied as homeless to their local councils cannot benefit from this measure. This once again leaves a section of society unprotected in this uncertain time.

 

Maintaining the physical and mental health of all people during this pandemic is paramount. It must not be forgotten that the homeless population still make up part of our society and it must be ensured that they are not excluded from social, economic and health policy.

 

Post by Rebecca Mutsatsa

 

Sources

 

Crisis. (2020). Crisis Emergency Fund. Retrieved from Crisis : https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/in-this-together/?meganav=1

 

Glenton, J. (2018). Research shows that many rough sleepers have experienced some sort of trauma in their lives. Retrieved from Riverside: https://www.riverside.org.uk/rough-sleepers/ 

 

Homeless Link. (2020). Rough sleeping. Retrieved from homeless.org: https://www.homeless.org.uk/facts/homelessness-in-numbers/rough-sleeping/rough-sleeping-our-analysis

 

Office of National Statistics. (2018). Deaths of homeless people in England and Wales: 2013 to 2017. Office of National Statistics.

 

Shelter(2020, Mar 17). Shelter Press Releases. Retrieved from Shelter: https://england.shelter.org.uk/media/press_releases/articles/shelter_responds_to_3.2_million_emergency_support_for_rough_sleepers_during_coronavirus_outbreak

 

 

Wall, T. (2020, Apr 12). Cramped living conditions may be accelerating UK spread of coronavirus. Retrieved from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/virus-hitting-hardest-modern-equivalent-victorian-slums

 

 

The Lancet. (2020). Covid-19: a potential public health problem for homeless populations. The Lancet, 5.

The Shadow of COVID-19 

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For everyone, the world has changed somewhat from how we knew it just five months ago. Our focus, not just individually but globally, has been abruptly switched from a milieu of issues to the pandemic of COVID-19. While many of us switch gears, slow down or take up new battles against this deadly virus, we are in danger of forgetting that the societal issues we were discussing just five months ago, are still there. Although many of these could now be left to languish in the shadows of the largest public health crisis for a century. As issues in the UK, such as an underfunded national health service come to the fore, others such as child poverty, domestic abuse or social inequality are exacerbated, but struggle for prominence. Around the world, wars, such as those in Yemen and Syria continue. Pro-democracy activists are quietly tucked away in Hong Kong and China, while the international community is distracted. As a public mental health crisis and economic recession loom on the horizon, we watch many neo-liberal leaders in western democracies, who previously told us that there is no magic money tree; now pour billions into starved public services and floundering economies. It’s of crucial importance at this time, that we all focus our efforts on fighting COVID-19. However, it is also important that we remain vigilant and remind those in power of potentially marginalised communities and issues that could be easily subsumed. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, it was reported by UK charities such as Refuge, that up to two women a week are killed by a partner or former partner in England and Wales, when citing data published by the Office for National  Statistics (ONS) for April 2018 – March 2019[1]. Since lockdown conditions came into effect in March 2020, there have been increased calls for further provision to be made available for refuge services, and those fleeing domestic violence (DV). These calls have coincided with a spike in the reported incidence of DV[2] and an understanding amongst many agencies supporting affected families that public holidays, and periods of time when families are home, can precede a rise in such reports. It is estimated that since 2010, austerity has caused one in six refuges to close their doors[3]. It is arguably only now that the tragic lack of funding in this area is being realised. The government’s recent announcement of an emergency funding package worth 750 million for frontline charities is welcome, but for many organisations in this sector that are already under-resourced, the economic pressures are truly being felt. It is also worth noting here the current rates of child poverty in the UK. According to a report published by the Social Metrics Commission in July 2019, an estimated 4.6 million children in the UK live in poverty[4]. In the current climate, with support services reduced and initiatives such as free-school-meals suspended, there is a potential for these figures to increase. With rising unemployment and instability that will affect many, we will see those with the least economic resilience hit hardest. These issues and others like them were apparent before the pandemic and will continue to be during, and afterwards. Further consequences to vulnerable communities as a result of COVID-19 and the lockdown could potentially be moderated by ensuring that they do not fall from public consciousness.

 

[1] Refuge – Our Work
Office for National Statistics – How are victims and suspects related

[2] BBC news article – 27th April UK lockdown

The Guardian – Charges-and-cautions-for-domestic-violence-rise-by-24-in-london

[3] https://www.independent.co.The Independent – Domestic-abuse-refuges-government-funding-announcement – 2019

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/projects/refuges

[4] https://socialmetricscommission.org.uk/social-metrics-commission-2019-report/

https://socialmetricscommission.org.uk/new-report-on-poverty-from-independent-commission-highlights-scale-of-challenge-facing-new-prime-minister/

 

Child Sexual Abuse and Restorative Justice

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Child Sexual Abuse and Restorative Justice

by Aliza Khan

 

Restorative justice allows those affected by all forms of crime to explain to the offenders the impact their criminality has had on them. It gives victims a voice. The damage caused by the sexual abuse of children is incalculable. The practice of restorative justice emerged in various countries as a way of dealing constructively with those legally or morally responsible for the abuse. It can aid victims of abuse in their recovery, but also the rehabilitation process for offenders.

 

The Ministry of Justice defines restorative justice as “the process that brings those harmed by crime, and those responsible for the harm, into communication, enabling everyone affected by a particular incident to play a part in repairing the harm and finding a positive way forward.”

 

According to the Ministry, there are numerous processes of restorative justice, including:

  • Victim-Offender Conferencing – this involves bringing the victim(s), offender(s) and supporters (such as a partner or family members) together in a meeting.

 

  • A Community Conference – this includes bringing together the members of a community which has been affected by a particular crime and the offenders.

 

  • “Shuttle RJ” – this consists of a trained restorative justice facilitator passing messages back and forth between the victim and offender. The participants do not meet.

 

  • Neighbourhood Justice Panels – this involves trained volunteers from a local community facilitating meetings between victims and offenders for low-level crime and antisocial behaviour.

 

  • “Street RJ” – is usually facilitated by police officers between offenders, victims and other stakeholders in attendance at the time of the incident.

 

Today four main types of child abuse are generally recognised including (1) Physical Abuse (2) Emotional Abuse (3) Sexual Abuse (4) Neglect.  According to the NSPCC sexual abuse is defined as (but not limited to) the following:

 

  • Sexual abuse occurs when a child is forced or tricked into sexual activities. This can include using a body part or object to rape or penetrate a child, making a child undress or touch someone else, exhibitionism, or exposing oneself to a minor, making, viewing or distributing child abuse images or videos.

 

The Office for National Statistics estimates that 3.1 million people aged 18-74 were sexually abused in childhood. The use of restorative justice with victims of child sexual abuse is much debated. People point to the dangers of re-victimising the victim, others point to the benefits of empowering the victim (Penal Reform International, 2016). Taking this into consideration: How beneficial is restorative justice in addressing child sexual abuse?

 

One noticeable benefit is that it provides a valuable context and rich insight into the circumstances of both victims and offenders. The restorative process shines a beacon on the issues and vulnerabilities the offender is facing (Catch 22, 2020). Child sexual abuse isn’t limited to geography, social class, religion, culture or ethnicity. There are several deeply rooted, complex and interrelated societal factors that can contribute to sexual abuse. Research demonstrates that social problems such as domestic violence, substance misuse and poverty can play a factor in the facilitation of abuse (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2004). Knowledge like this helps victims to understand what led that person to crime. In a randomised trial Victims First, highlight that restorative justice provides an 85% victim satisfaction rate. For many victims, meeting the person who has harmed them can be a huge step in healing and recovering from the crime.  They demonstrate:

  • 72% of victims said their conference had provided them with a sense of closure.
  • 78% of victims would recommend to others.

In reverse, the offender begins to see the impact of their actions on the lives of their victim. Child sexual abuse has numerous potential consequences that can last a lifetime and span generations, with serious effects on health, education, employment, and the economic well-being of the individual (Media Kit on Sexual Assault, 2020).

 

Statistics published by Darkness to Light  indicate:

  • Adults with a history of child sexual abuse are more than twice as likely to report a suicide attempt.
  • Female adult survivors of child sexual abuse are nearly three times more likely to report substance use problems.
  • Male sexual abuse survivors have twice the HIV infection rate of non-abused males.

 

The Restorative Justice Council note that restorative justice has been shown to help reduce re-offending by 14%.

 

This article has examined the potential of restorative justice programmes to facilitate conflict resolution for victims of child sexual abuse and the rehabilitation of offenders. Meeting face to face can be a powerful and rewarding experience for both. There is clear evidence that restorative justice can provide tangible benefits and is a powerful tool in developing cohesive and democratic societies. However, it’s important to note that restorative justice can have its limitations too (Penal Reform International, 2016). Notably, some concerns include:

 

  • The victim can be re-victimised by the process.
  • Psychological harm may be brought to the victim especially if the offender shows no empathy towards them.
  • It relies on voluntary cooperation from the victim and the offender. Criminals may not want to participate or take responsibility for their crime.
  • The safety of victims, particularly in a situation of power imbalance.

 

Taking this into consideration restorative justice can be highly beneficial as long as victims’ needs are placed at the forefront and securing redress remains the central objective.

 

Alysa Khan

 

References

 

Catch 22, (2020), Why restorative justice matters for victims, offenders and communities, https://www.catch-22.org.uk/news/why-restorative-justice-matters-for-victims-offenders-and-communities/

 

Child Welfare Information Gateway, (2004), Risk and Protective Factors for Child Abuse and Neglect, https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/riskprotectivefactors.pdf

 

Media Kit on Sexual Assault, (2020), CONSEQUENCES OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, https://www.inspq.qc.ca/en/sexual-assault/understanding-sexual-assault/consequences

 

Penal Reform International, (2016), What can restorative justice offer victims of domestic violence?,https://www.penalreform.org/blog/can-restorative-justice-offer-victims-domestic-violence/

 

 

Anxiety and Depression in Isolation

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I have, for as far back as I can remember, struggled in public situations. My mind, adept at sowing doubt, places blind suspicion in the motives of others, imagines boredom in those I talk to, attacking me with every blink, or gap in the conversation. At nights I lie awake convincing myself to borderline certainty that all those I love or care about see me as something to be tolerated, or with outright disdain. 


There is no evidence for this, you understand, and lived experience has generally taught me otherwise. But, since 2013, I have worked hard to chip away at these spectres. At a time when my mind demanded I stay inside, I walked across Spain. When it demanded I avoid large gatherings and talk, I went to conferences and spoke. When it demanded isolation, I sought community. I have built a structure of confidence and self-support that has held me up in spite of everything but standing atop it now, I see the surge of this virus coming towards me, ready to wash it all away.

I will not bore you (and nor do I have space) with my experiences of what preceded this (which I’ve documented here, here, and here). But given the current, unprecedented times we live in, marking it with some words about the impact it is having on mental health could prove to be productive. I believe that there is still very much stigma around mental illness. Although in recent years the topic has been discussed more openly, and with appropriate sincerity, suicide remains globally the second leading cause of death in males. The suicide rate in the UK amounts to roughly one every half an hour. Although of course, not every suicide can be directly attributed to mental illness, those with mental illness have been found to be at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts. It is a killer that predates COVID-19 and will outlast COVID-19, so, continued honest discussion of the topic is vital, both as a method of raising awareness as well as addressing the stigma.

As the situation surrounding COVID-19  is ongoing, it is probably too early to perform any form of academic analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on those with mental health conditions. So, with this in mind, here are a few paragraphs of my own perspective and observations of the daily functioning (or lack thereof) of my mind. After all, it’s difficult to interview others about the topic right now.

Observations

On a day-to-day level, perhaps because of my natural introversion, the pressure of forced isolation or quarantine has not hit me yet. Instead though, I find myself living in a peculiar sense of emotional numbness. A general, blind sense of… not much at all; no happiness, nor sadness, no lethargy, nor excitement. I feel merely awake. 

 

This, I suppose, is to be expected, being stuck inside is not a condition that exactly sparks the imagination, but this degree of anhedonia can be a symptom of depression, which may turn into something more severe.

Of course, depression and anxiety are conditions that distort thoughts as much as they poison emotion. At its worst, even the most delusional thoughts borne from depression can seem purely reasonable, the depressed mind seeks confirmation and validation at all times. I can recall inspecting every item of food I came into contact with for signs of ‘tampering and poisoning’. 


So, when the news is filled with stories of mass panic, deaths, photographs of emergency field hospitals being created in Central Park and in conference centres…the mind jumps at the possibilities. It is natural and it certainly doesn’t take bad brain chemistry or a few misfiring neurons to get concerned about this. Yet, in a mind already tilting towards dread, the constant barrage of news of COVID-19 and the consequences it has had on us all has felt like validation and confirmation of some of the thoughts that only weeks ago would have felt like paranoia. It is no surprise then that there was a spike in depression and anxiety immediately following when the lockdown was put in place.

I am, of course, not saying that lockdown should be lifted to relieve this added depression, but we should recognise that the long-term health problems stemming from this global lockdown are unlikely to be limited to the virus itself, and once the world’s doors open again, many of us will find ourselves still, mentally, locked away.

Arthur Peirce