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Kwajo helps us tackle misconceptions of homelessness

17 October 2022

  • Author: Megan Evans, Media Officer
  • Reading time: 2 minutes

We teamed up with Kwajo Tweneboa, also known as @KwajoHousing on social media, to tackle some of the many misconceptions that exist around homelessness. 

Kwajo is a nationwide housing campaigner and does vital work to raise awareness about the poor conditions that people are stuck in in the social housing sector.

A cause close to his heart, Kawjo and his two sisters cared for their terminally ill father in a housing association flat infested with flies, cockroaches and mice.

Kwajo spoke to the public exploring what the concepts of ‘home’, ‘homeless’ and ‘hidden homelessness’ meant to them.

What does the word 'home' mean to you?

@centrepoint_uk The word ‘home’ means something different to everyone. For the young people we meet, there’s no safe place they get to call home. This #WorldHomelessnessDay, tell us what home means to you. @Kwajohousing #home #homelessness #youthhomelessness ♬ original sound - Centrepoint

When I say 'homeless' what do you immediately think of?

@centrepoint_uk If someone were to ask you what the word ‘homeless’ meant, what would you say? Most will probably think about street homelessness and rough sleeping because it’s one of the most visible types. You’d be absolutely right too – more than 8,000 people were spotted on London’s streets between April 2021-March 2022 alone. But it isn’t the full picture. Almost 122,000 young people approached their council for help last year because they were homeless or at risk – and this doesn’t even include homelessness that is hidden from official statistics, like sofa surfing. So, we’ve teamed up with @kwajohousing to address some of the many misconceptions that exist around homelessness. Please watch and share! #youthhomelessness #homelessness ♬ original sound - Centrepoint

Have you ever heard of the term 'hidden homelessness'?

@centrepoint_uk Have you heard of ‘hidden homelessness’? If you’re like most of the people we spoke to, the answer is probably no. In essence, it means experiences of homelessness that aren’t included in official statistics. It’s things like sofa surfing, crashing on a friend's floor, sleeping on night buses, and staying with strangers. We joined @kwajohousing to chat to people on the street and raise awareness of this type of homelessness. Can you think of any other examples that we might class as hidden homelessness? #homelessness #youthhomelessness #hiddenhomelessness ♬ original sound - Centrepoint