How many people really sleep on the streets?
There is the official count of rough sleepers, and then there are the real figures. Housing campaigners highlight true extent of rough sleeping homeless reports from Westminster, what has been generally suspected for a long time. That there are many more people sleeping rough on the streets than we are told officially.
The article reports on a count using people who knew where to find those sleeping rough, and they found 206; where the official figure, collected only three months earlier, found just 111. The official figures seem to be a real underestimate.
Is this because they are gathered by officials who either want to find as few as possible, or don't know where to look? Talk to people all round the country, and they, like us, are convinced that the official figures are a real underestimate.
Surely it is important to have accurate figures, and make plans for a real need, than to simply count inaccurately?
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Reaching out to the homeless
AN organisation which helps rough sleepers in Dorchester is expanding its role to help the homeless in Weymouth. The Hub drop-in centre in the county town is taking on £5,500 from the Weymouth and Portland Rough Sleepers Initiative (WIRS) after the charity's trustees decided to cease operations. read more. . . .
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How you can help women sleeping rough
`While the popular image of a rough sleeper may be someone selling the Big Issue or a man sitting under a blanket, and begging with a dog, these perceptions hide a much more varied and complex reality. A report, published at the weekend, based on an analysis of figures from 248 councils in England and Wales, found that the number of homeless women has soared by nearly 80% in the past five years. There are now 144,162 single women, many with children, on council waiting lists for accommodation. And, according to Leslie Morphy, chief executive of the charity, Crisis, these horrifying figures - compiled for the report, Women and Homelessness, which was put together by the Conservative party - are actually an underestimation: "Many vulnerable women escaping domestic violence lie low and stay away from councils altogether so are not counted."
Morphy's comment underlines just how hidden homeless women are, both from the authorities and the public. Research by Crisis found that while 60% of homeless women have slept on the streets, only 12% have had any interaction with street outreach workers. And although many, like A, are homeless as a result of violence (in one study, 63% of homeless women aged 30-49 cited domestic violence as the reason for their situation), they often run headfirst into more abuse.
D, a woman who had been homeless on and off for 25 years, says that she has been "raped, beaten and burned just because I had nowhere to go and wouldn't do what someone wanted me to. Homeless women are especially bullied." Many refuse to go into hostels, because not many accommodates couples and of the people don't feel safe in them. Some of them manage to stay for a few nights, sofa surfing, between spells on the streets.
The Hub works with anyone sleeping rough, though the women coming to the Hub make up a much smaller group, than men. If you would like to volunteer, offer your expertise, become a Friend of the Hub or pledge regular money to help us help rough sleepers, please call Margaret Barker (01305 260959) or check out how to do these on the home page.
______________________________________________________________Hub AGM 2008
Welcome by the Chair
Last year you will remember there were significant problems, which led us to review our service and make some significant and difficult changes. Thanks to great efforts by everyone, we have now turned things around . . read more
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FUNDING FOR THE HUB
Charities are encouraged to find sustainable sources of income so that they are not constantly looking for grants and donations. That sort of income can come from selling something or charging for something or bidding for contracts to provide a service. None of this is really realistic for the Hub unless we were to open a charity shop or a cafe - but we might need large grants to do this and this area is already saturated with these two commodities. Continued . . .
______________________________________________________________Government action plan to reduce rough sleeping
Annabel Broome Chair of the Hub, encourages you look at the new consultation document the Government has issued, asking for your opinions before they set out their strategy to reduce homelessness to zero (Government action to reduce rough sleeping) which you can download yourself here.
To summarise:
- Provide training and skills rather than just a roof over peoples heads, so they can move permanently off the streets
- Focus on London (where 15% are `migrants')
- Increase housing supply, and new models of hostel accommodation for drinkers
- Consult on methods of counting numbers of rough sleepers
- Consult on methods of counting numbers of rough sleepers
- What works? `a very focussed and targeted approach with high-profile central leadership, assertive outreach to get people in, and investment in accommodation specifically for former rough sleepers`
They ask the following specific questions for your response:
- Have we identified the right issues for the updated strategy to address, and which are the most important?
- What new actions would have the biggest impact in delivering the proposed aims of the updated strategy?
- As well as action by government, what can other partners in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors contribute to the updated strategy?
- Do you have sources of evidence or examples of good practice that it would be helpful for us to draw on?
Please send your feedback to:
claire.vaughan@communities.gsi.gov.uk
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Killed by life on the streets
HOMELESS people are dying even after finding accommodation because years of sleeping rough wrecks their health.
The grim message comes from Bob Matthews, manager of The Hub in Dorchester, after at least six men who used the centre for rough sleepers died in just over a year. read more here . . . .
______________________________________________________________Resettlement
Last year April 2008 to March 2009 25 people were resettled through the Hub. So far this year since April 2009 13 people have been resttled through th Hub....
Many of these people need on-going support from several agencies, including the Hub, to enable them to maintain their accomodation.
___________________________________________________________Hub is boosted by donations
FREEMASONS have given a cash boost to Dorchester's centre for rough sleepers.
A cheque for £825 was given to the Hub by Montagu Lodge of Lyme Regis and a further £425 was donated by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset.
Margaret Barker, one of the founders of the Hub and a trustee, said: "It's terrific. This money is very welcome. It's a total of £1,250 and will be a big help.
"It shows the support from the wider community for the Hub."
Dr Barker was joined by Hub chairman Annabel Broome to receive the cheques from Carl Holland and Provincial Grand Master Harry Barnes.
They outlined how the Hub helps homeless people and the improvements that have been made this year to minimise its impact on the community.
These cheques followed a donation of £1,000 from Dorchester Baptist Church, who stated; “As a church, we acknowledge the good work of the Hub. A number of our members are involved a practical way, but we felt it was also important to support the work financially.”
The Hub has also received a large donation from a charitable trust because; "We are pleased to be able to support the Hub, which is providing a vital service to our local community in helping those that are homeless, in such a practical way."
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Friends of the Hub
Regd. Charity no. 1095529
www.dorsethub.org.uk
Trustees: Annabel Broome, Jane Culliford, Penny Fennell, Ellie Stephens, Mark Stevens, Nigel Tooth, Victor Myers, Margaret Barker
From Margaret Barker, Trustee
43/45 Bridport Road, Dorchester DT1 2NG
01305 260959; margaret@mbarker.demon.co.uk
Friday 23rd October 2009
Dear Friends of the Hub,
It seems a long time since we had our meeting when we decided to go forward with the plan for Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA) to take over the running of the Hub. We would never have guessed that it would take until now to make this happen and still the legal documents are waiting for a final amendment before they are signed but we are nearly there. There will be some publicity in the local media once this is completed.
BCHA have now taken over the operational running of the Hub and we are pleased to say that they have appointed Ann MacDonald, who has been acting manager since Bob left, as the full time manager. Ann is keeping up the excellent work and the successful resettlement of homeless people continues. She has also introduced more education sessions, especially in IT, and Hub users now have regular access to two computers in the sitting room. The Portacabin has been installed in front of the Hub to provide a consulting room for all the visiting professionals and two long-awaited developments have happened – the mental health worker is now in post and the dental van from Bournemouth makes a monthly visit.
In Weymouth we have had less success when our fifth attempt to acquire premises for an advisory service to complement the work done at Soul Food, was turned down. We are now leaving this development to BCHA who already have a strong presence in the town but we hope that, by strengthening the number of Friends of the Hub who are based in Weymouth, we will be in position ready to support such a development.
There are certain tasks that the Friends of the Hub will undertake – public awareness, volunteers and a steady, small amount of fund raising by all of us, rather than a massive effort by a few. Our numbers have dwindled and a new start is needed so we are asking everyone to come to the meeting that is advertised overleaf and please bring with you two friends to extend our network of support.
With good wishes from all the Trustees,
Friends of the Hub
Registered Charity no. 1095529
Please come to a meeting to plan our future
Tuesday Nov 10th
at 6pm
Tolpuddle Room
United Church, Dorchester
(use Charles street entrance)
It will last approximately an hour and there will be light refreshments.
We need YOU there and two of your friends!
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