3.4 Time Barriers for Homeless Individuals

Time As a Barrier

For many of these individuals, the economic and time constraints pose significant challenges in accessing community resources. They become more vulnerable and fail to secure vital services, such as primary health care, housing, employment, and even psychiatric care. The homeless find themselves in a hostile web of hardship, which increasingly intensifies the lack of safety without appropriate time or financial resources.

Limited-Service Hours

Many of London’s community groups, such as London Food Bank and The Salvation Army Centre of Hope, establish operating hours and often close early in the morning. The Salvation Army’s Housing Stability Bank, which offers rent and utility support, is only accessible weekdays from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. (The Salvation Army Centre of Hope, 2025) In the same way, the London Food Bank supplies food support, but its set times of operation may not be suitable for people with multiple requirements throughout the day (London Food Bank).

Wait Times and Appointment Scheduling

Another serious problem is the long lines for social and health services. Receiving medical care can be difficult for people with time constraints since the London Inter Community Health Centre, which provides healthcare to communities with limited resources, only operates during business hours (London Inter Community Health Centre, 2024) Moreover, due to rising demand and shortages of staff, those seeking psychological help, addiction treatment or housing aid may have to wait weeks or months for a consultation (CMHA Middlesex, 2024).

Impact On Employment and Stability

Homeless people who are looking for work face time challenges. It might be difficult to maintain an organized schedule for resumes, job interviews, and employment instruction without a stable place to live and reliable transportation. Further limiting job seekers’ choices is the fact that many shelters and resource centers lack the ability to provide additional services on the weekends or in the evenings.

Efforts To Address Time Barriers

The City of London has taken new strategies in response to these problems, such as 24/7 service hubs which provide continuous access to services which includes crisis management, housing aid, and health care. The aim of these hubs, which are an aspect of London’s Whole of Community Solution to Homelessness, is to fill the gap between the demands of those in need and the assets that are provided (City of London).