Today the porthole was reunited with a homeless friend who is living on the streets of Buxton as you read this. One hardly thinks it possible that homelessness is in an issue in a respectable spa town like ours. But take my word for it, it may not be too obvious but it is there! As I was out in my down jacket taking photos in the snow last night, knowing I could go back to porthole towers with the central heating and a hot chocolate, I had forgotten that people where sleeping rough in these conditions too.
It matters not how they got into this situation or if even they are nice people. The fact is they are in distress and there, by the grace of God go we. Homelessness is not just for Christmas it is a 24/7 – 365 issue. Is there something you can do to help?
Buxton & the High Peak has a Night Stop project for homeless young people run at the United Reformed Church on Hardwick Square East – 01298 74788; they always need help. More basically just keep your eye open and offer help if you see a need. Spare a few coins or maybe buy a sandwich or portion of chips for someone in need.
Nationally Crisis will be getting a lot of coverage at this time of year but their work is constant and is invaluable too.
It matters not how they got into this situation or if even they are nice people. The fact is they are in distress and there, by the grace of God go we. Homelessness is not just for Christmas it is a 24/7 – 365 issue. Is there something you can do to help?
Buxton & the High Peak has a Night Stop project for homeless young people run at the United Reformed Church on Hardwick Square East – 01298 74788; they always need help. More basically just keep your eye open and offer help if you see a need. Spare a few coins or maybe buy a sandwich or portion of chips for someone in need.
Nationally Crisis will be getting a lot of coverage at this time of year but their work is constant and is invaluable too.
2 comments:
Yesterday i was faced with the task of trying to find accommodation for a young gentleman with mild learning difficulties who had just been released from prison- why was he in prison? Due to shop lifting. He may not have gone to prison had he had appropriate accommodation. After a number of issues including berievement and drug addiction he became homeless: not eligible for the bond scheme, cannot afford rent in advance to obtain a tenancy, surpassed his crisis loan allowance. the only option left was a hostel. In Noth West Derbyshire we have one hostel: Salisbury House,which is full. So where does that leave everyone else? NOWHERE!!!! if yesterday is anything to go off. Having been told that Housing would provide 3 nights of bed and breakfast paid for by the prison service, i then found out that there had been a miscommunication and that this was no longer an option. as the gentleman quoted is not eligable for the bond and there is no hostel space in the whole of North West Derbyshire, we then headed over the Derby city. Why? because housing departments have to prioritise people from their own area, so having already spoken to Housing at Manchester, Sheffield and Stoke-ok-trent Housing and being informed that they could not help us, we were advided to go to Derby as being part of Derbyshire he may be classed as having a local area connection. Having had to wait 2 hours to be seen at Derby, we saw a housing officer who in no uncertain terms told us taht she disnt understand why we were there and that there was no way they could do anything as they had enough people in their own area to deal with. Having speant the rest of the afternoon contacting 43 hostels taht advertise themselves as being direct access in the 4 cities mentioned already plus Preston, Rochdale, Blackpool, Fleetwood, Nottingham, Liverpool, St Helens, Hull and Leicester and being told everywhere was full with the exception of 2 places who could offer an interview at the end of next week but have a waiting list, the gentleman was left with nowhere to go last night and the temperature was 0.5 degrees. Having only the clothes he was stood up in, which had been festering unwashed at the prison since he wet there 6 weeks ago, i could not even offer to wash the clothes for him. This morning i had a moment of hope when i remembered that i had taken someone to the YMCA in Stoke a few years ago, i contacted them and was relieved to hear taht they had 1 bed space in their 100 bed unit. However, on giving the gentlemans details, i was then informed taht he is not eligable as they have changed their criteria and no longer accept drug users. i explained that he is a recovering drug addict on a Methadone maintenance programme, to no avail and we were back at square one. Having decided to call it a day i came accross an old diary of mine from 3 years ago when i worked for Adullam Housing and found a number for Sanctuary Trust in Rochdale. i contacted them and now have an interview arranged for the gentleman for tomorrow, my only remaining issue is how to get him there. The point of this story is: I have been trying to set up accommodation in Buxton for the last 3 years but have been unable to access funding through supporting people as any unit would have to be staffed. my most recent leetr to supporting epople which was sent in October 2011 recieved the following reply.: BUXTON CURRENTLY HAS SUFFIECIENT SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS AND ALL FUNDING CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE FRAMEWORK. The framework is a fantastic service that provides much needed tenance support and advice to the homeless.However, as important as that is, they do not have any accommodation and therefore cannot provide the one thing that all homeless people require.
If this is something you are also passionate about or feel you may be able to help with then please reply to my comments.
Its upsetting to see that no one has posted a comment to this and i am 21 years of age and can not help with accomodation. i know your post was sent at the start of 2012 but there is a hostel in stoke on trent in Hanley called hope street (that take drug users)I was in there myself and if they have no bed spaces then they set up camp beds in the communal areas when it is cold and they also feed you free of charge if you are not in a room and they will keep you until a room is availible then when you have a room you can start paying. also I left there and decided to go back onto the streets a woman came to me and my ex partner and found us a landlord in Buxton his name is Simon Graham and he will take anyone with any circumstance (as he is just happy to get the money) im sorry if you already know theese people and im sorry i cant help anymore than that I hope this message finds you well
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