The Rise of the Cardboard Economy

Last week I watched an item on Sky news that resounded with and supported a lot of what I’ve been campaigning about over the past few years – what to do about the lack of affordable social housing and the growing impact this is having, particularly on those who live and work for low wages in our expensive inner cities. Over the past 18 months, since Covid hit us, this problem has been increasing at an alarming rate and Sky’s report really brought it home.?I was so glad to see it given such prominence on prime-time viewing.

Latest figures show that around 75,000, or a quarter of households in England who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless are also managing to work. Rough sleepers, people in tents or temporary accommodation, aren’t all the vagrants, drunks or whatever else ill-informed or unsympathetic people assume they are. Many are seriously trying to cling on to normality by holding on to their jobs, their pride and self-respect, against all odds.

However, now the furlough scheme is coming to an end some charities fear this figure will rise as even more people fall on hard times. Another problem is the gig economy. It's very successful in some ways but it also means that while there is work available, it's not secure work, especially in these uncertain times, and sometimes doesn't pay enough to cover the rent.

With the numbers of rough sleepers expected to rise following the pandemic, there is now a new sub-sector of our economy that is growing - the working homeless - the cardboard economy.

And, as ever, even when someone finds a proper job after having been unemployed and homeless, getting new accommodation is a problem because it’s the same old story: the councils or housing associations have long wait-lists and you can’t rent privately without a decent deposit, references and an existing address and/or guarantor. A vicious circle.

That’s where we see a void which at the moment, in our small way, we at Global Guardians are trying to fill and indeed have always had a social conscience in the way we operate. Yes, we are a commercial organisation, not a charity, but we have a strong moral and ethical compass and want to do our bit to help where we see a problem and encourage others to follow our lead. We are happy to take on reliable, employed people and give them safe and secure accommodation while they protect the otherwise vacant property they are staying in. That’s the simple deal. This arrangement costs them much less than equivalent market rents; it gives them a chance to get on their feet again, begin saving for a more permanent home, and make new friends and get their lives sorted out. A new start.

We want to utilise so much of the vacant property that is now standing unused and unwanted as working from home is now becoming a fact of life and the new way forward, even part time. We want to put these former commercial buildings to good use until their owners do that, and hopefully include some affordable housing in that redevelopment.

The Government wants to build back better after the nightmare of the past 18 months – but looking after the working homeless has to be one of their social priorities, and ridding society of the cardboard economy before it becomes a permanent fact of life.