What People. told us

During the summer of 2022 we spoke to over 70 people across Cornwall who answered “yes” to the question, “have you experienced housing insecurity or homelessness since the start of the pandemic?”

We heard from People who’d lived in cars and caravans and vans and tents and graveyards and outbuildings. People with no roof over their heads. People sharing the home of family or friends - for now. People in temporary accommodation, in social housing, in private rented accommodation. People who had been evicted from private rented accommodation or found private rented accommodation but worried they might be evicted. We also heard from People with money to rent or buy but not enough to rent or buy in Cornwall.

We asked people three questions:

  1. What’s gone on for you housing-wise since the start of the pandemic?Although many people’s stories did not neatly fit this timeframe.

  2. What helped you cope when things were hard?

  3. What don’t people understand about the housing situation in Cornwall?

To download a copy click here.

“I think people walk past a lot more homeless people in the street than they realise. We are not all wearing torn clothing sitting in the doorway. A lot of us don’t have a permanent address. There’s no such thing as looking homeless. People are all so different. There are people who will make a loaf of bread last a week but won’t go out without a pair of Nike trainers. Maybe it’s people trying to retain their identity.”