COVID-19 and homelessness: businesses as part of the solution
This factsheet focuses on how businesses can respond to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Having a decent and secure place to live is the foundation from which we can go on to thrive in other areas of our lives like work, education and relationships.With the UK facing strict social distancing measures, the majority have a safe place to live.
However, many people are experiencing homelessness in the UK, meaning measures to protect themselves and others – including handwashing, social distancing and staying at home – are made more challenging or impossible for them.
Businesses have an important role to play in the UK’s response to homelessness which is set out in full in ourDesigning Out Homelessness toolkitpublished in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Mayor of the West Midlands and Gowling.
About this factsheet
ThisCOVID-19 and homelessness: Businesses as part of the solutionfactsheet provides statistics, case studies and guidance including on:
- fair pay and benefits
- skills and development
- security and structure
About Business in the Community’s Employment work
Creating meaningful employment is one of the most significant ways that business contributes to the livelihoods of individuals and communities, and is for many the only sustainable route out of poverty.
Offering quality experience of work, adopting new approaches to recruitment and breaking down barriers to entering work for people from disadvantaged groups can benefit business by tackling skills shortages, building new talent pipelines, boosting retention rates and achieving higher productivity.
Read more about Business in the Community’s (BITC) Employment agenda.
About BITC’s response to COVID-19
As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on towns and cities across the UK intensifies, the need to link business support to community need has never been more urgent.
To meet this need we have launched theNational Business Response Networkto identify community needs across the UK and match them to the right business support. Through Business in the Community’s vast regional and local connections and leaders, we are able to identify national and local community needs. The network then connects businesses who have the resources to help.
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Business in the Community is creating a skilled and inclusive workforce for today and tomorrow