Homeless At Christmas

Like most towns and cities in the UK, Canterbury has rough sleepers. In a small city it’s a very visual reminder that when people find themselves without a home, they can end up in shop doorways, public parks or tucked away in a tent. We often hear people ask ‘why are there still people homeless in this day and age?’ and ‘why don’t the council sort this out?’

Rough sleeping is a complex issue. It often involves a long back-story which may include family problems, relationship breakups, job loss, drug and alcohol misuse, mental health problems or trauma. It’s unrealistic to believe that by simply putting a roof over someone’s head, their other problems will go away.

Canterbury City Council has helped and rehomed many rough sleepers, but some end up back on the streets in a cycle of complicated and challenging situations. For some, their ‘family’ is the network of other rough sleepers, and they may feel isolated or unhappy when in housing. If a rough sleeper refuses to engage with outreach workers, they cannot be forced to receive help or housing. Some simply wish to be left alone (and it’s not illegal to sleep on the street, so often the police are unable to help).

Fortunately, Canterbury has two amazing charities who do outreach work with rough sleepers and homeless people and try to offer a more long-term approach to help them to solve some of their problems, allowing them to stabilise and improve their lives and eventually find permanent housing and employment. They can sign-post help to addiction services, to financial support, education and jobs or they can simply support them in their immediate need until they are ready to seek help.

Catching Lives

An independent charityaimed at supporting the rough sleepers, homeless and vulnerably housed in Canterbury and East Kent; those who have, for many reasons, fallen through the gaps in society and feel they have nowhere else to turn. Their focus isn’t just on providing hot food, showers and other facilities, but on doing everything they can to help the homeless get into a better place. At their Day Centre, next to Canterbury East train station, they have dedicated support workers who can help with making a homeless application, registering with a GP, housing referrals and job searches. Their on-site mental health professionals provide support for the wellbeing of clients who visit the centre.

In 2020 Catching Lives saw 464 individuals through their doors including 222 new clients. They served 19,715 meals across the year. Their work tackling homelessness in the local community is vital to ensuring everyone has a helping hand when they need it.

Porchlight Canterbury

Helped 9,300 people across Kent to get their lives back on track

This includes helping 619 rough sleepers.

They helped 1,850 people who were at risk of losing their home

Porchlight also help vulnerable families and individuals at risk of becoming homeless, to help them avoid this situation deteriorating and to keep family life stable.

During the Winter, temperatures can drop to around 2°c in Canterbury overnight. Catching Lives work tirelessly alongside other local organisations to provide emergency accommodation, known as the Winter Shelter to the homeless in Canterbury. Over the Winter of 2020-2021, the Winter Shelter was used by a total of 41 rough sleepers.

Case Study: Adam

When Porchlight first met Adam, he was 18 years old and homeless. Now 26, he’s an assistant manager at a major high street shop and responsible for managing large sums of money, dealing with customers and motivating a small team of staff.

“I’m in a job I like and am in charge of a great team – all because an employer saw the same potential in me that Porchlight did.” Adam has been with his employer for six years. He started out as a cashier while still living with Porchlight. Adam had become homeless due to a family relationship breakdown. He spent over a year being supported by Porchlight and rebuilding his life. Employment allows people to leave homelessness behind for good, but we know that people must recover from the trauma of homelessness before they’re ready to work. Porchlight helped Adam to overcome the trauma he had experienced and rebuild his confidence. An important step in this process is helping people find volunteering opportunities with local organisations. For Adam, this involved helping to run a large jobs fair.

“Volunteering really boosted my confidence. At first, I felt out of my comfort zone but by the end it made me realise I was ready to start applying for jobs.” Adam was good at talking to the public – something he’d realised while volunteering. He began applying for publicfacing jobs with help from his support worker. Soon, Adam’s employer offered him a cashier role. He began work and was able to move out of Porchlight accommodation a few months later. Since then, he’s established himself at the company.

“I’m happy where I am. I have made friends with colleagues and customers. At one point in my life, it’s not something I imagined myself being able to do.”

If you’ve been homeless it can count against you when going for a job. “My story is proof that no one should be judged because of their situation. If employers are willing to look beyond homelessness, they will find many more people like me who have a lot to give.”

So what’s the best thing to do to help?

Canterbury City Council would urge people not to give cash directly to rough sleepers, but to donate to either Porchlight or Catching Lives. Both charities work with long-term aims to help their clients to get off the street, rather than a short term fix of one meal or a night in a hostel.

As you book your own festivities, please don’t forget what a big difference a few pounds could make for those facing homelessness. This Christmas, we hope that you will consider giving to our local charities who do such great work in the city.

catchinglives.org/donate

porchlight.org.uk/donate

When shopping in Whitefriars this Christmas, visit their Giving Tree window display. Tap the window with your debit or credit card to support Canterbury’s Winter Shelter.

Refer someone to Porchlight: 0800 567 7699

Report a rough sleeper to Catching Lives: 01227 464904

If you are concerned about an individual you see sleeping rough in the city or have issues with persistent rough sleeping on or near your premises then please report it via streetlink.org.uk