The downward spiral into homelessness

In a series of special reports, ITV News is examining Britain's housing crisis.

More than 1.5 million people were living in destitution in the UK at some point last year, according to a report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

That means they were without the basic essentials we all need - somewhere to live thats warm and dry, enough food to eat and running water.

The charity is calling for major changes in the social security system system to ensure that nobody in the UK is left without the bare minimum to get by on.

  • John's story: 'It's a vicious circle'

John is one of 6,000 people on his council's housing waiting list. Credit: ITV News Central

John has been sleeping rough in the streets of Leicester for a year.

Once he had a home, a partner and children. But the relationship broke down, he lost his house, and got into trouble.

He eventually went to prison and lost everything.

Finding somewhere to live feels impossible. He is on the council waiting list along with 6,000 others.

  • Sarah's story: 'It's hard to face people'

Sarah is unable to see her family because she is concerned about her former partner bothering them. Credit: ITV News Central

Sarah (not her real name) had a drug problem and was a victim of domestic violence.

She says she deliberately shoplifted to put herself in prison for somewhere to live.

She has just come out of prison and now living on the street.

Her children live with other family members because she does not want them to go into care.

She cannot be around her family because she is concerned about her ex-partner bothering her, and therefore putting her children in danger.

She and John both have painful bacterial skin conditions that they cannot cant get rid of.

Sarah's face is blistered and she has a hole in her leg, caused by an infection, because is unable to keep clean.

100 homeless people have died since September. Credit: ITV News Central

Both John and Sarah know their precarious lifestyles are putting them at risk.

In March, a homeless man was found dead in a tent in the snow near a church in North Nottinghamshire.

He is one of around 100 homeless people who have died since October 2017.

Housing charities have also raised concerns that - even if people do find somewhere to live - if they have very little money and no support it makes them vulnerable to homelessness again.