Freelance writer Ellie May Forrester has compiled extensive research to explore the link between neurodiversity and homelessness. This article examines key risk factors, including employment barriers, financial difficulties, substance use and inadequate housing, highlighting the urgent need for better support systems to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling into homelessness.
A 2018 study found suggestions that between 12% and 18% of people who experience homelessness in the UK are autistic or neurodivergent. This compares to 1% to 2% of the general population. There are many factors why this might be so, including gaps in education, employment opportunities, access to suitable housing, and social isolation.
Numerous charities and organisations are trying to address this issue, seeking solutions to homelessness among autistic individuals. As a society, more needs to be done to prevent people on the spectrum from becoming homeless in the first place.
What is homelessness?
The legal definition of homelessness in England, as stated by the charity Shelter, is:
A person is threatened with homelessness if either:
- They will likely become homeless within 56 days
- They have been given a valid section 21 notice in respect of their only accommodation, and the notice expires within 56 days.
The Renters’ Reform Act
In October 2025, the Renters’ Reform Act received royal assent and will come into force as of May 2026. Resulting in the abolishment of the section 21 notice, preventing landlords in the private renting sector from issuing a ‘no-fault eviction’ without having a legal reason to do so. The true outcome of this act and the difference it could potentially bring can only be truly known in the years to come.
6 factors that can lead neurodiverse people into homelessness
Employment
Currently, the driving factors that are bringing about the increasing rise of homelessness among neurodiverse individuals, as stated by Cordis Bright Limited, are socioeconomic.
This includes low employment rates, lower earnings, and working part-time in unstable positions. A 2024 study found that neurodiverse people were 10 to 20 times more likely to be in temporary jobs than their neurotypical counterparts.
This has several consequences; for example, the National Development Team for Inclusion stated in 2023 that neurodiverse individuals faced barriers to obtaining employment. Including undertaking unpaid work experience and doing vocational courses that often lead to unstable jobs. Not having the technology and means of transport to apply for work and get there are also factors.
The NDT further stated they often face stigma from employers and employees around neurodiversity and mental health. This can affect how they explain to an employer the need for reasonable adjustments. The confusion and anxiety about employment and its impact on benefits lead individuals not to pursue work, fearing they will lose their benefits.
Read: From Binman To Boardroom: How I Unleashed My Neurodivergent Talent
Mental health
There are several reasons why neurodiverse people are more likely to have mental health issues that, in turn, contribute to them becoming homeless. A study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Learning Disabilities in 2022 revealed that childhood abuse, socioeconomic exclusion, and trauma as a child contributed to individuals experiencing homelessness.
Research published in 2025 revealed that 94% homeless people had experienced trauma. Stephie Williams, who has ADHD and was undergoing an assessment for autism, lives in Wales, she told BBC News:
“It can happen to just anybody, a lot of us are actually only three pay cheques away from being homeless ourselves… especially if you haven’t got savings behind you.”
Stephie has received support from a psychiatrist and is now getting support through psychotherapy to talk about her trauma from the past, such as being outed as gay when she was growing up.
The Autistic Society states that Autistic people are 50% more likely to experience depression compared to 5% of the general population. There are many reasons for this, according to Autistica, which include having hyperfixations, stimming involving hand flapping and rocking the body, self-harm, and sleep problems.
It also found that another contributing factor was that autistic people’s support needs were not met in terms of living arrangements. An autistic adult called Jon told Autistica:
“I feel that the anxiety and depression I have suffered over the years are the result of my autistic mind having to cope with a neurotypical world.”
Many neurodivergent people can also feel socially isolated. This can mean that it is difficult to establish social networks and form connections. Autistic people are four times more likely to be lonely.
Read: Falling Through The Cracks: A Mother’s Fight For Her Autistic Son To Access Mental Health Services
Money management
Another area in which neurodiverse people struggle is financial management. According to the consultancy Newton in a 2023 study, 27% of neurodivergent people are underconfident when handling money. They also found that 21% had acquired overdraft debt, 17% had utility arrears, and 11% had payday loans.
Dr Uthish Sreedaran of Psychiatry UK told the Financial Times last year:
“Individuals may find it hard to keep track of their expenses, find it difficult to keep on top of paying bills, impulsively spend money, get into debt and may be fined, which can then escalate into more significant financial difficulties.”
One of the main reasons that neurodiverse people have issues when managing money is due to the executive functioning of the brain. This enables people to make decisions, organise their working memory, and be aware of their own self-control when it comes to spending in daily life.
However, a neurodiverse person’s executive functioning may mean that they find it difficult to handle their finances because of forgetfulness, distractions, and time management issues. Leading to impulsive spending, not looking at a bill or bank statements, and anxiety around discussing finances.
Read: Saving Money As A Disabled Person In The UK: A Comprehensive Guide
Substance abuse
Another factor that can lead neurodiverse people into homelessness is substance abuse. Research has shown that people with ADHD are 5 to 10 times more likely to become addicted to alcohol. This is often because many adults will self-medicate to manage both ADHD and the psychiatric issues linked with it, as stated by Dr James Brown on Rehab.UK.
He further added: “As the brains of people with ADHD often feel like they cannot ‘switch off’, engaging with substances which either provide dopamine (like nicotine and cocaine) to cause ‘paradoxical calming’, or slowing down of thought processes, or use substances that are intoxicants as these can temporarily relieve much of the internal hyperactivity and repetitive thought patterns which can be so distressing.”
According to a study by the University of Cambridge in 2021, autistic people were nine times more likely to use recreational drugs compared to their neurotypical counterparts. The same reasons were stated in this instance for drugs being used to mask traits of autism. Elizabeth Weir, a PhD student at the University of Cambridge Autism Research Centre and lead researcher, remarked that:
“Whether or not the substances currently classed as ‘recreational’ could be used medically remains an open question. It is evident that the current systems of health and social care support are not meeting the needs of many autistic teenagers and adults.”
Neurodiversity, homelessness and substance abuse can all co-exist alongside one another. Support for substance abuse can be difficult for a neurodiverse person to obtain when they are in these circumstances. William Morris, director of a House of Bread, a charity which supports the homeless in Staffordshire, has helped twenty people who they believe are autistic. Morris told BBC News:
“We know people have difficulties articulating their problems around homelessness, the definition, the way they have to communicate with statutory providers.”
Read: From “I Was” To “I Am”: Embracing Joy, Purpose And Fearless Transformation With Chronic Illnesses
Finding suitable accommodation
One major area that can cause a great number of difficulties for neurodiverse people is finding suitable accommodation that meets their needs. A study by King’s College London and the All-Party Parliamentary Group found that temporary accommodation (TA) can severely impact neurodiverse children. There are 25,000 to 120,000 neurodiverse children living in TA, and these can include B&Bs, hostels, and privately rented accommodation.
One mother, Agatha Phiri, told The Guardian of her experience when she and her daughter, who has ADHD, were living in a TA,
“She says noise makes her body feel pain and triggers her a lot. We had to experience that every single day for a whole year in that temporary accommodation.”
It’s not just children who are impacted, but also neurodiverse adults who encounter these challenges too. A study in 2021 found that homeless hostels did not meet the needs of autistic individuals because of having to share accommodation and rules being in place. It also found that the limited availability of social housing and the waiting list for a property contributed to homelessness.
There are currently 1.34 million households on the local authority housing registers or waiting lists as of the 31st of March 2025, an increase of 1% from 2024. Now at the highest level since 2014, according to the government statistics. 39,000 are living in temporary accommodation such as B&Bs, hostels, prisons, with 5,000 (2%) households sleeping rough and 43,000 (17%) living with friends and families.
Action on Empty Homes states that there are approximately 303,143 long-term empty homes in England as of 2025, the highest level since 2011. It further added second homes, which are not in residential use, to 268,153, bringing the total to 1,022,443vacant homes.
Read: Evicted Without Options: Disabled Resident Fights For Accessible Housing Amid Safety Crisis
Barriers to housing support
There are many barriers that neurodiverse individuals face when trying to obtain housing support. For example, in 2024, Steven Lewkowicz, a twenty-five-year-old from Wales, who has ADHD, told BBC News of his experience:
“It was like a mountain, I didn’t know where to start.”
This is a common theme that many neurodiverse people face when seeking housing support from their local authorities. Research by the Transformation Partners in Health and Care in 2024 revealed the knowledge and understanding of frontline staff who work with autistic/neurodiverse individuals who are experiencing homelessness in London. It showed that there is a wide range of professionals involved in supporting individuals.
However, what is significant about this data is that 20% are hostel workers and only 4% are psychologists. Given the vital role psychologists play in diagnosing autism, they are underrepresented in this area. This lack of diagnosis further highlights the difficulties that autistic/neurodivergent people face when trying to gain support.
The largest sector of those working with neurodiversity is ‘other’, at 52%, which includes jobs in health and social care, and charities represent the third sector. What is abundantly clear from this data is the extent to which charities are supporting neurodiverse people at a time when assistance from local authorities has declined. This could, in part, be due to cuts to local council services.
For example, only 1% represented supported housing, 2% represented case workers/coordinators, and workers who work with individuals with complex needs. Even though this set of statistics highlights the issues that neurodiverse people are currently facing in London, it represents the disjointed approach of local authorities, the NHS, and social services. Where governments have failed at both the national and local levels, it’s resulted in charities taking up the mantle.
Equally, there needs to be greater measures to enable neurodiverse people to come forward when they are in challenging circumstances. Less than a third (32%) of individuals who sought help with debt told the debt advice service Step Change they were neurodiverse. Furthermore, gaining support from a local housing authority can be harder when staff have limited or no knowledge of neurodiversity and its potential effects on an individual.
The research by the Transformation Partners in Health and Care mentioned above also revealed that their training and resources were not well enough equipped to support autistic people who were homeless. With 15% stating that they felt their organisation was ‘very unsuccessful’ and 27% stating ‘somewhat unsuccessful’, in providing help to autistic people.
One participant stated: “We need mandatory neurodiversity training for any workers, especially those in the homelessness sector. We work with a population where we see a massive overrepresentation yet massive underdiagnosis.”
Read: Being Diagnosed With Autism As An Adult
How to tackle homelessness for neurodivergent people
The circumstances that lead neurodiverse people to become homeless are driven by a myriad of factors. Whether through becoming unemployed, difficulties in managing financial matters, mental health, or substance abuse. It is vital that, with this number of issues coinciding, there is greater training for staff, not just in homeless shelters but also in the healthcare system and social services.
There needs to be a more coherent approach to tackling homelessness so that neurodiverse individuals do not become abandoned by the systems that are supposed to support them, such as local authorities and healthcare providers.
For example, in Wales, the government is spending £220 million on homelessness prevention and support services and investing £330 million in social housing.
Leading professor Simon Baron-Cohen of the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge best summed this up by saying,
“I want us to be continuously asking people with autism what their lives are like, and what they need, so that they are fully involved in shaping their future. Only this way can we ensure their human rights are met.”
Ellie May Forrester’s research exposes the stark link between neurodiversity and homelessness, driven by barriers in employment, mental health, finances, substance use and housing. Change is urgently needed. If you are neurodiverse, share your real experiences of homelessness or housing struggles to help raise awareness and drive meaningful, lasting support. Let us know in the comments box, on social media or contact us to share your personal story.