This is far from an isolated case and is part of a rising culture in Britain that is pushing many middle class and professional people onto the streets. Hostels are seeing an influx of formerly "well-to-do" men and women with no mental health problems but who are rapidly loosing self esteem and motivation seeking refuge and somewhere to sleep.

It is not just those with large mortgages who are in jeopardy of from being suddenly thrust onto Britain's streets with nowhere to go. Although mortgage payers seem to be the most vulnerable, those in rented accommodation are also by at risk. As Nikki Homewood, director of homeless and complex needs at the Brighton Housing Trust commented, "What is also becoming common is people in private rented accommodation unaware their landlord is not keeping up mortgage payments until a bailiffs letter turns up."

As well as having to cope with the growing amount of people requiring refuge at shelters, the economical slump means homeless charities receive substantially less donations. According to a poll commissioned by the Social Investment Consultancy, business donations to good causes were cut by almost 500 million pounds last year as a result of the economic downturn. These cutbacks could not come at a time when charities need financial help the most. The homelessness charity Shelter compiled a study which predicted that the recent collapse in the construction of houses will result in a total housing shortfall in England of nearly 1 million by the year 2020.

Whilst the U.K. seem to be doing a fair amount to combat the growing problem by inaugurating 90 million pounds shelter restoration projects, in the United States under the former president's supposedly "go-go" economy, a significant proportion of previously affluent professional people lost their jobs and houses and were thereby declared homeless. The growing legion of middle class vagabonds in the U.S. are desperately grasping to the last thread of their once prosperous lifestyles by sleeping in their cars, often wistfully looking on in the same neighborhood where they used to own a house.

Thousands of kilometers to the east in the town of Ningbo, China's latest heartthrob is causing thousands of starry-eyed females to enjoy playing an online guessing game to why "Brother Sharp" is homeless. Being a university graduate who "lost it" after he split up with girlfriend is a popular deduction, and one which collaborates with the changing face of homeless in Britain and the U.S. Whatever the reasons and in spite of an unprecedented craze for "homeless chic", for those like Tracey Roberts in Britain who are experiencing the humiliation of being used to a life of "normality", having it unexpectedly snatched beneath their feet has to be one of the direst consequences of the economic collapse.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.ccgp-fushun.com/opinion/node_7077604.htm