4 minute read
Unsung heroes
Celebrating York's Volunteers Helping the Homeless
Annabel Forster reports
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H ave you ever wondered what it’s like to be homeless? To not have that safety and comfort of your own home, to not have a roof over your head or a nice warm bed waiting for you after a long day? Homelessness is on the rise, particularly in York, with numbers rising by 61% from 2017-18. The official figures for England show that 9,100 people sleep rough at night – it happens too often that homeless people are ignored or looked down on from passers-by. The 800% rise since 2011 is a cause for concern. 20% of this are women in York, which is above the national average. This has prompted action to be taken, in a bid to combat this problem and help rough sleepers on the streets of York.
The effects of being homeless can be traumatic, damaging to the overall physical and mental health and hard to escape from. Evidence suggests that the longer someone is in this position, the harder it is to get back on the right track, due to distress and the lack of opportunities. In a study carried out by the charity Shelter, rough sleepers reported that they felt threatened. This was not only by other members of the street community but by the general public too. Many of those interviewed also claimed to have been subjected to police harassment – this included being unfairly searched, arrested and repeatedly moved on. Poverty and homelessness can contribute to an abundance of health issues, the same health issues may be a concern to people who are not homeless, but the living conditions determine the severity of these health concerns. For example, coping and treating illnesses is a lot more difficult than if you have access to healthcare and clean warm water.
The lack of basic facilities, cold, hunger, and the fear of the unknown are all factors which contribute to the health problems that people face sleeping rough on the streets today. This is what charities and volunteers are working on in order to combat these harsh conditions in winter, not only in York but all around the country.
One particular group of volunteers, which does not have a lot of publicity in York, are a small local group of inspiring volunteers who give up their spare time to feed, clothe and simply talk to the homeless. They are most often the first people in the day or even in the week to talk to them. They call themselves HOPING Street Kitchen – Hoping stands for Helping Other People In Need Group. They collect donations and cook food all week, taking to the streets of York at King’s square every Sunday and Wednesday. They offer a variety of hot food, clothes and company for those in need.
I spoke to Lisa Price, the co-founder of Hoping street kitchen in York to find out more about the organisation. “We took the group over in June 2018 and have gone from strength to strength each month. We only had four of us at the beginning feeding around 15-25 people. Word got out that the meals were good (all homemade at home then warmed on gas cookers in Kings Square) and they got a pack up to take away. We have a Rota in place now, as we 20 volunteers to call on. Most of the volunteers have full time jobs and give up a massive amount of spare time.
“We are a non-profitable organisation and we rely totally on donations, whether it’s passing tourists in the shambles, sleeping rough in doorways in York, raffles etc. Greggs, Farmfoods, Co-op, Morrison’s and now M&S are our selected stores where we pick up on an evening all damaged or short-dated stock which we can either cook with or give out.”
Anybody is welcome to volunteer in order to help take action against the loneliness, hunger, and harsh conditions which rough sleepers face, particularly in winter.
She says: “I do think it needs more publicity as the homeless community is getting bigger and bigger. They value us for a nice hot meal but also sometimes we are the first person who has spoken to them, listened to them and tried to help them. When appeals go out for things like: socks, toiletries, baby wipes, sleeping bags and rucksacks don’t just read it, do something. We are asking for a reason.
“Most of the homeless have become our friends. They are waiting for us to unload the cars and vans to help us to set up the kitchen quicker. They are very protective of us as we are of them. We do use Facebook to shout it out a bit, but for others to appreciate and take the time to recognize us was such a good feeling. When we were nominated for York Community Pride awards it was amazing to be recognized in such a short space of time. Although, it was never about an award, it’s about helping these people whom have become our friends.”
She adds: “Do not give the homeless money. Buy them a cuppa tea or a coffee. You don’t know if your feeding the person or the habit which some have.”
Pointing them into an emergency shelter is a must. This will prevent any further deaths within the homeless community. At least 78 people died last year, both on the streets and in temporary accommodation. This brought the number of deaths to more than 300 since 2013, showing a cause for concern. You can contact the Salvation Army, or Streetlink in York if you are concerned about the safety and/or health of the homeless.
In York, there are many charities which you can also donate to:
• Carecent - A breakfast centre for all homeless and unemployed, providing food, clothing and fellowship. Volunteer staff offer advice and support where possible. http://www.carecent.org/
• Arclight Project - Housing vulnerable people across the North East and Yorkshire. https://www.homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/arc-light
• York Foodbank - Helping local people in crisis and providing emergency food to those who need it. https://york.foodbank.org.uk/
