The Centre for Homelessness Impact (CHI) and the Rural Homelessness Counts Coalition, chaired by English Rural Housing Association, have partnered to create a collection of free, non-stigmatising images of people who are experiencing homelessness in rural areas to help challenge negative stereotypes.
When we think of homelessness, we often think of images of people in cities or urban areas. But that’s largely because rural homelessness can remain hidden, and those experiencing homelessness, isolated. From woodland camps to sofa surfing - rural homelessness can take many forms.
CHI and the Coalition spoke with people who had experienced homelessness in different locations and different forms across the country. People spoke of the challenges of rural homelessness, from inefficient transport links, to a lack of social housing.
The unique experiences reflected in this new collection show the real human faces of homelessness, helping to change the narrative and build empathy.
Rory Weal, Strategic Policy lead at English Rural, and Co-Chair of the Rural Homelessness Counts, coalition said:
"Often our perceptions of homelessness are based less on evidence, than on images and stories. These perceptions lead us to associate homelessness just with cities. But we know far too many people in rural communities are facing the injustice of having no place to call home. That's why we have been pleased to work on this collection, to demonstrate through images and stories that homelessness can happen anywhere. Homelessness is everyone's business, and tackling it requires action across all of our communities."
You can read more and take a look at the image library at the following link: Unveiling Hidden Realities: New Images of Rural Homelessness
DCA's Rural Housing Enabler for County Durham, Susan Tron, is interested to hear from anyone who has been affected by rural housing issues - please email Susan.TronMBE@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk
Photo: Centre for Homelessness Impact/Jeff Hubbard | 
