PHIL MAXWELL

People become homeless for lots of different reasons. There are social causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty and unemployment; and life events which push people into homelessness. People are forced into homelessness when they leave prison, care or the army with no home to go to. Many women experiencing homelessness have escaped a violent or abusive relationship. Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent. Not everyone who becomes homeless ends up on the street. Many homeless people are hidden because they are living in over crowded conditions or sleeping on a friends couch.

There’s a severe housing crisis in the UK and many people will never be able to buy their own house. Decent housing is a basic human right and this photomontage addresses the issue in terms of street homelessness. Seven different images make up the final composition – including a lake in Cambodia.

The average age of death for people experiencing homelessness is 45 for men and 43 for women. People sleeping on the street are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence. More than one in three people sleeping rough have been deliberately hit or kicked or experienced some other form of violence whilst homeless.

Homeless people are over nine times more likely to take their own life than the general population. 

You can purchase this photomontage and other art by Phil Maxwell here: https://theartofresistance.bigcartel.com/products

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