IKEA and its charity partner, Shelter, have today released research that reveals more than 11 million adults are worried about losing their current home, and half say that if they lost their current home, they would struggle to find somewhere else to live. The research reveals the devastating consequences of a cost-of-living crisis meeting the housing emergency, with findings showing that in the past year, in order to keep up with their housing costs, 18% of adults in the UK say they have taken on additional work, 17% have skipped meals and a further quarter would consider it.
Meanwhile, 25% say that their housing situation is more insecure now than it has ever been, with almost a third fearing they will struggle with their housing situation for the duration of their lives. One in every 208 people in England is currently experiencing homelessness, with thousands more likely to lose their homes by the end of the year as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Together, IKEA and Shelter have created ‘Real Life Roomsets’ to raise awareness of this issue and highlight the real living conditions of those who become homeless and are forced into temporary accommodation as a result.
The roomsets, which are a stark contrast to those found in IKEA’s showrooms, are based on real stories of people local to the stores involved. Each roomset highlights the cramped, dangerous, and grotty spaces that an increasing number of people who are experiencing homelessness are forced to experience when living in temporary accommodation.
