Homelessness

HOMELESSNESS

No place like home

VODA volunteer Jonathan Legg has been volunteering for nearly 4 years and was very enthusiastic to take up the opportunity of being responsible for making yet another short film. Teaming up with young people from Maritime Court and Depaul UK, together they produced a short film about experiences of homelessness.

The young people interviewed in this film not only wanted to share their stories, but were also keen to offer questions for discussion.

The young people also contributed a poem as well as tips about where to go and what to do if you find yourself homeless.

After a lot of thought by young volunteers, it was decided that one of the main issues concerning young people in this modern society is homelessness.

When you think of someone who is homeless you don’t instantly think about youths. This film explains the reasons behind why it is becoming harder for the younger generation to stay at home and contains interviews with youths who have suffered for it and the supporters who try to make a change. Topics covered include the issues youths have faced at home, the reason for their homelessness and the battles along the way to finding what they have been looking for‌home.

In this educational pack you will find energizers, discussion questions, information, references all related to the issue of homelessness. For any suggestions or comments please email Evelina.savickaite@voda.org.uk

2011

Energizers/starters Resources Sheets of paper per pair, pens or pencils

Imaginative shop On a piece of paper in pairs decide if you have had a shop, what would you sell.

Think of a title for your shop and draw a quick advert to promote your products.

Time: 5 minutes

Our zoo Split participants into pairs and ask them to list animals they would like to have in their zoo. You can improvise the zoo by adding some specific options (policemen zoo, rock band musician zoo etc.

Initial reflection upon a subject

Thought shower Resources: Flipchart paper, markers, post-it notes

Time: 10 minutes

Initially young people could be encouraged to reflect upon their perceptions on what home is for them. They can do that by giving their first impressions that could be written down on post-it notes and pinned down on a flip chart paper.

Collage Resources: basic art materials, paper, magazines and newspapers

Time: 10 minutes

The participants could be given a range of art materials and newspapers to produce a collage about their perceptions of home.

Using a poem Resources: a poem, paper, basic art materials, roll pens, a poem (resource no.1)

Time: 10 minutes

The poem could be read out by a volunteer/facilitator and young people are encouraged to share/write down/draw few thoughts or images about how they feel about it.

Introduction to a subject Time: 5 minutes

Resources: no 2.

The resource no.2 provides only basic quotes, statistics and some references to more information, so the facilitator can create own presentation, quiz or a game according to the needs of young people and time capacity.

Film Resources: DVD player or PC, projector, a copy of a film or possibility to watch film online.

Time: 10 minutes

Watch a short film ‘No place like home’.

Synopsis. After a lot of thought by young volunteers, it was decided that one of the main issues concerning young people in this modern society is homelessness. When you think of someone who is homeless you don’t instantly think about youths. This film explains the reasons behind why it is becoming harder for the younger generation to stay at home and contains interviews with youths who have suffered for it and the supporters who try to make a change. Topics covered include the issues youths have faced at home, the reason for their homelessness and the battles along the way to finding what they have been looking for…home.

Discussion Resources: questions (resource no. 3)

Time: 10mins

The questions were designed by young people who have experienced homelessness. A facilitator is welcomed to choose the questions for discussions. Different questions can be used in different groups. The outcomes of the discussions could be briefly presented in plenary.

Simulation exercise: The Row of Categories Resources: social roles and statements (resource no 4).

Aim: to raise awareness among young people about what possibilities people have or do not have because of their social status. Give an opportunity for students to empathize in role of other people who are in really negative or positive social status.

Time: 20mins.

Description: Every participant should be given a different social role (house wife, unemployed person, businessman and so on). They all need to stand in the row facing facilitator. The facilitator starts reading different social possibilities. When a participant in his row feels he is able to use that social possibility, he steps forward. If he is not able to do that, he moves backwards (i.e. to a statement ‘I am able every day have a proper meal’, if the student thinks that the person in that social role is able to have a meal every day, he makes one step forward, if not one step backwards.)

Evaluation: Questions to reflect upon: how did a young person feel being in that social disadvantageous role? Have they noticed these any differences among those roles in relation to their every day life? Are young people aware of people around them and their problems? How we can help for people with fewer opportunities integrate in society?

‘Tips’ exercise

Resources: a list of tips (resource no. 5)

Time: 10 minutes

Facilitators could ask young people to think of what kind of advises they would give to homeless young people. Then a list of tips made by young homeless people could be presented.

Evaluation Resources: a copy of a chart per participant (resource no. 6) , roll pens.

Time: 5 minutes

Ask participants to colour the charts about how much they think they have learned about homelessness.

Resource No. 1

A poem At first you think great I’ll get my own Place Unaware of all the problems you’ll face No-one will cook or clean for you And no-one will pay your debt These are the things you learn to do And never will forget It doesn’t get easier as you go along Things get harder and things go wrong Then its time to admit you need some support And that is what’s offered at Maritime Court Help with your money and daily skills And making sure we’ve paid our bills Life isn’t easy living alone Sometimes I wish I could just go home

By Kate Croney

Resource No. 2 Statistics: “Unfortunately there are about 1 million people in Britain that are homeless. Half a million of which are on the street or in doorways and the other half a million are living in a squat or a temporary shelter. “ “United Nations in 2005, which puts the number of homeless at 100 million.” Rena Sherwood

Quotes: “You don't have to be living on the street to be homeless. You may be legally classed as homeless if you are sleeping on a friend's sofa, staying in a hostel, suffering from overcrowding, or other bad conditions.” The Housing and homelessness charity England “I realise how much I had then I lived with my parents and then I left how hard to live on my own”. Kate “When you live at home, you want to movie out but then you leave you want to come back.” Lee “Don’t let pride to get the best don’t say I am tooth enough I can face a street because I don’t think anybody is tooth enough stay night after night in street, it’s not nice place.” Lee

Helplines, charities and more information: Depaul UK The charity helps young people who are homeless, vulnerable and disadvantaged. http://www.depauluk.org/ Maritime Court Barnardo's - Base Young People's Centre Drop-in advice, information and support for young people facing poverty, unemployment, homelessness. Advice on benefits, training, employment, housing, debt. cafe, laundry, creche. Recreational, learning and social activities. Sexual health drop-in. Employment/training worker. Help for people with substance misuse problems, including onward referrals. www.barnardos.co.uk Crisis Skylight Newcastle is an education, training and employment centre for homeless and vulnerably-housed people. http://www.crisis.org.uk/pages/crisis-skylight-newcastle.html Shelter Homelessness and housing charity Information and advices http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness Tyneside Cyrenians Tyneside Cyrenians offer a holistic approach to the needs of the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged who come to them for support. www.tynesidecyrenians.co.uk For information: A Review of Local Authority Homelessness Strategies and Youth Homelessness in Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Developing support for young people who have been homeless www.northumbria.ac.uk/static/5007/sasspdf/csru_yhrp.pdf Youth homelessness in the UK An evaluation of the progress being made to address youth homelessness in the UK. http://www.jrf.org.uk/publications/youth-homelessness-uk

Resource No. 3 Questions designed by young people • • • • • • • •

What do you think supported accommodation is?

What does a homeless person look like?

Where would you go if you became homeless?

What are the different types of homelessness?

What services are available for under 25?

How does homeless affect you?

What causes homelessness?

Can you become homeless more than once?

Resource no. 4 Social roles and opportunities Roles: A businessman, a student, a young homeless person, a retired person, an unemployed person, a politician, a local shopkeeper, a disabled person, a child etc.

Opportunities: • I can have a meal every day.

• I go to work every day.

• I am studying or have studied at university.

• I get around everywhere by car.

• I use public transport to get everywhere.

• I pay taxes • I go to concerts or cinema at least once a week.

• I have holidays at least once a year.

• I can get around everywhere by myself.

• People look at me with respect.

• I know I can say my opinion and people will appreciate it.

• I have got a place to live.

Resource no. 5 Tips ‘do’s and don’ts’ designed by young people • • • • • • • • • • •

Speak to professionals.

Present ‘homeless’ at your local housing office.

Try and prevent the situation happening-speak with family/friends.

Try not to cause arguments.

Don’t turn to drink/drugs.

Don’t take things for granted –don’t know what you’re got until it’s gone.

Don’t hurry to move out for wrong reasons-you may not be ready.

Living alone isn’t easy –don’t think it is.

Go to youth homeless prevention service/youth village.

Speak to friends.

Don’t bottle up your emotions

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Resource no. 6 Evaluation chart

110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0