Asking the Big Questions: Homelessness in the UK
In the first episode of Benefact Trust’s Asking the Big Questions video series, we turn our attention to homelessness by responding to the real questions people are asking online. These are the questions that reveal public curiosity, confusion, and the sometimes-uncomfortable assumptions made about homelessness.
By putting these questions directly to our expert beneficiaries – YMCA London City and North and Betel UK - this episode offers an honest look at the complexities behind homelessness and the people working every day to create stability, recovery, and support.
Why homelessness matters
Homelessness continues to be one of the most pressing issues across the UK, shaped by a combination of economic pressures, lack of affordable housing, mental health challenges and social inequalities. Yet despite the worrying scale of the issue, public understanding of why people become homeless is often limited or shaped by misconceptions.
With our 2025 beneficiary survey highlighting homelessness as one of the biggest challenges facing communities, we knew it was the right topic to select for our first episode of Asking the Big Questions.
The goal was to explore how people talk about homelessness – what they’re searching, questioning, and trying to understand. By starting there, our beneficiaries are able to dive into the issue and have more meaningful conversations.
Answering the questions people are really asking about homelessness
The episode brings together two Benefact Trust beneficiaries working in different areas of homelessness support - Betel UK focuses on addiction and rehabilitation, whereas YMCA London City and North focuses on youth homelessness.
Throughout the video, both organisations respond to commonly searched questions helping to unpack:
• What the causes of homelessness are
• Why we’re seeing increasing youth homelessness
• Whether homelessness is a choice
• What effective homeless support really looks like
• Whether homelessness is an issue that can be fixed
Tylene (YMCA London City and North) and Timon (Betel UK) help us to understand the different circumstances that can lead to homelessness and the barriers people experiencing homelessness come up against.
Stigma remains one of the biggest challenges facing people experiencing homelessness. Misconceptions can shape public attitudes, influence policy, and ultimately affect how individuals are treated.
By taking questions directly from search engines, discussion platforms, and AI tools, this episode addresses those perceptions head on. It creates space for honest answers, while also encouraging viewers to reflect on their own assumptions.
Importantly, these conversations are led by the organisations working on the frontline of homelessness support. Their insights offer not just expertise, but empathy and personal experience.
The role of charities supporting people experiencing homelessness
Another central thread in the episode is the role of grassroots organisations in tackling homelessness.
Both beneficiaries highlight the importance of tailored, person-centred support for successful homelessness recovery. Whether working with young people at risk or individuals navigating addiction, their approaches are built around understanding each person’s circumstances.
This reinforces a broader message - there is no one-size-fits-all solution to homelessness.
Join the conversation
This first episode is not intended to provide definitive answers to homelessness. Instead, it opens up a conversation. Homelessness is just the beginning for the series. Future episodes will continue to explore the issues shaping society today, always grounded in real questions and real experiences.
For the full conversation on homelessness watch the first episode of Asking the Big Questions on YouTube.