THE SPIKE

Social Class and Homelessness.

2011-10-19T21:40:00.000+01:00

A recent report suggests that the middle class are the emerging group of homeless.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/recession/8732209/More-middle-class-families-will-become-homeless-due-to-recession.html
But at what point do we record these distinctions? Is alcoholism and drug addiction class distinctive or do the middle classes just hide it well? Are we to assume that middle class people all have savings, mortgages or family to help them out in their time of need, I know plenty of people who would consider themselves middle class but have none of these. If we are to assume a definition of middle class then is it someone with a good education, in a professional job and a home owner?
Do we need to put aside these useless definitions and make people realise that homelessness can happen to anyone, as we don't know what the future holds and how we will cope with it. Can any one of us ever say we will never be homeless? Maybe, we need to do more to open peoples eyes and make them realise that mental health, physical health, addictions, bereavement, self harm, domestic violence, abuse, unemployment are common factors that can contribute to someone being homeless regardless of their class.

Homelessness and debt management.

2011-07-25T15:28:00.001+01:00

It becomes increasingly difficult to cope with debts during a time of recession. Many of us have debts, loans or mortgages, but many homeless clients also have debts.
Shelter have shown that there is a link between the repossession of homes and unemployment. So inevitably many of these people may become homeless. Click here

As unemployment rises and people struggle to pay their mortgages or rents. Are they seeking support to deal with these debts before they spiral?

From my experience it seems that many people hide away from their debts until it all becomes too much. At what point do they begin to engage with services? Can we make it easier to access support and deal with the reasons why the debt occurs and not just the debt itself?

Working to bring resources, services and teams together for maximum effect.

2011-06-12T15:43:00.000+01:00

One of the aims of The Spike is to bring together teams within the homeless sector, from across the country and possibly the world and to share our knowledge and experiences. We hope that by doing this we can maximise service potential within this sector and work more efficiently and effectively with rough sleepers and homeless clients on the front line.

The Spike is now using Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and we hope to reach a variety of services and front line workers. Support is steadily growing, we have 156 Twitter followers, 43 Facebook friends and we recently joined LinkedIn. Please join us and take part.
Facebook (Homelessness Outreacher or The Spike group) or Twitter at TheSpike2010

We have used the MindMeister tool to create a quick link base to various support services used within the homeless sector by front line workers. This diagram breaks down possible needs and then provides (in most cases and where possible) a website link to that service or resource.

MindMeister http://www.mindmeister.com/58497775/homeless

Give us your comments about this tool and tell us what you would like to add or remove from it.

Societies Reaction to a Homeless Person

2011-05-28T21:43:00.001+01:00

The issue of homelessness is rather complex at times, but the response to a homeless person is usually quite simple. It seems that many people have a general fear or loathing of those they see sleeping on the streets and I can only guess this is due to ignorance or misconceptions spread by the tabloids. While others may look on them with pity and unwittingly patronise them with their willingness to help.

But slowly and surely people are spreading the word that a homeless person is the same as everyone else (as those with a home). A homeless person can be a mother/father, a son/daughter, or a sister/brother. They may have hopes and dreams and made some good choices and bad choices in their lives as well as anyone else in society.

Here are some ways that homeless people can now be heard, so that perceptions can begin to change. Take a look and let us know what you think.

Crisis Changing Lives Sophie's Story

Lydia's Story

Doing it homeless No Box Blogs

sendwire.com This is a cool Story

What is your reaction?

Will the end of the Workers Registration Scheme help those already rough sleeping with 'No Recourse to Public Funds' ?

2011-04-14T20:01:00.000+01:00

As of 1st May 2011, the worker's registration scheme will no longer exist. This currently effects A8 Nationals living and working in Britain (A8 countries are Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungry, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia). It means that as of this date, A8 nationals will have the same rights as other EEA (European Economic Area) Nationals in this country. See Directgov for EEA and A8 info

Currently A8 nationals cannot access Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) until they have worked for 12 months in accordance with the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) and have to pay £90.00 to register on this scheme. They can not access benefits unless under the WRS and have completed 12 months of employment. For those that have not completed 12 months of employment required due to illness or unemployment, they are not entitled to benefits until they can complete the allocated time in employment.

The biggest changes to the cancelling of WRS is that A8 Nationals can now register for income based JSA (as long as they meet the same criteria as British Citizens accessing benefits). They should also be entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefits.

While researching this issue I have been unable to understand how this effects those A8 Nationals already in this country. Much of the documents I have read comes from the perspective of someone newly entering the country.

Will this impact on those already rough sleeping? Will this solve many of our issues regarding those sleeping out who have No Recourse to Public Funds? How does it work in practice?

Show your support for Soup Runs

2011-03-18T19:52:00.000Z

There will not be a discussion on The Spike this week, instead please show your support for

Soup Run Street Party on the Piazza.

Following on from a recent discussion on The Spike, regarding Westminster City Council planning to ban soup runs, it also seems they are proposing a by-law to ban rough sleeping and giving to the homeless.

There will be a street party for anyone wanting to attend, to " celebrate the positive impact of soup runs and groups giving to the homeless in Westminster, with food, music and fun provided!"

They will be meeting at 2pm on 20th March at Westminster Cathedral Piazza.

To find out more and to offer your support check out their facebook site or email lids@sockmob.org.uk

Are soup runs still necessary in today's society?

2011-03-03T22:48:00.000Z

This week has seen Westminster City Council state that they intend to ban soup runs within a particular area of their borough (see below for map). There are arguments from a variety of parties both for and against soup runs.

Soup runs offer a way of accessing food and sometimes clothing for those that are unable or unwilling to engage with other services. Anyone can access the services provided by soup runs. Whilst many of the service users will be rough sleepers, those that are housed also use the services. Some service users will have access to benefits, albeit they are likely to be struggling financially, while others will not be claiming even if they can. It can be a place for socialising as well as support.

The attraction of the soup run is that it is commitment free and anonymous. For someone new to the streets, or experiencing problems with their benefits, soup runs allow rough sleepers to address a basic need for food. It also means that those dealing with other issues including addiction, phobias and paranoia and who feel they cannot access a building based service, such as a day centre, are provided with stress free interaction.

However, the issues raised against soup runs are that many are organised by those without any experience of people management, crowd control or homeless people. Soup run numbers can be high and there are often very few volunteers to run the service. Many service users have used these services for many years. They can however be very intimidating to those using the service, who may be vulnerable, residents of the areas, and volunteers as well as outreach workers. Which may account for the general dislike of such activities.

But do these soup runs really help rough sleepers maintain a life on the streets or does it allow them to access essentials for their basic survival on the streets?

For more information

Click here for a detailed map of the area in question

London School of Economics document Soup runs in Central London: ‘The right help in the right place at the right time?’

Will the results of the latest street counts help to identify important services which should be protected from government funding cuts?

2011-02-23T14:37:00.000Z

It seems that although some local authorities undertook street counts and others made estimates, the results from last years rough sleeper counts have been worthwhile.
A recent Homeless Link document (Rethink cuts-call to local authorities with high levels of rough sleepers) states that the results show both regional differences in homeless numbers and a connection between the recorded numbers and the current economic performance of a region. It highlights "rough sleeping in rural agricultural areas where the economic downturn has left Central and Eastern Europeans workers destitute when work contracts have run out" also areas such as "Kensington and Chelsea, which is another authority planning substantial cuts, reported its highest number of rough sleepers since data has been collected". It explains that by using estimates as well as actual counts areas can highlight the need for more government funding in order to deal with homelessness issues.
Homeless Link suggest that cuts to funding would seriously undermine progress already achieved, stating that "A time of budget cuts should be a time to focus resources on the most vulnerable people, not a time to cut away the lifeline services and those enabling them to rebuild their lives.”

Will these new results help to stream line services and assist others to prove that the work they are already doing is vital to the success of ending homelessness?

Can we really end homelessness?

2011-02-09T22:26:00.000Z

For hundreds of years homelessness has existed all over the world in one form or another. There have been many attempts to prevent or manage it.

On one hand society says we should have freedom of choice about how we live our lives, but if this goes against the 'norm', we label the choice with a negative stereotype and eye them with suspicion.

From the top down (government to front line staff), everyone is working to end homelessness. Will it be OK to have few homeless people, or will we bring in tougher laws to make it impossible to sleep rough anywhere without being arrested irrespective of the support systems put in place?

Rural Homelessness

2011-02-04T20:16:00.000Z

A recent article in Inside Housing suggests that homeless acceptance has increased by 25% in rural areas.

Along with ‘sofa surfers’and ‘squatters, rural homelessness is often considered as another category of ‘hidden homelessness’. As with many inner city areas, poverty, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as mental health issues, are associated with rural homelessness. However, rural services seem to have less funding and presence within the community than many of their urban counterparts. It therefore seems that many rural areas struggle to provide adequate support to the homeless clients.

Homeless Link have produced a document on service provision in rural areas which highlights many of the challenges faced. It also suggests ways services can improve and recommends looking at:

identifying specific needs that may differ in rural areas compared to more built up ones
how services can be accessed and if they are beneficial to service users and the community
whether particular services can work effectively in a rural area.

Having worked as an outreach worker in an urban environment I have limited knowledge of rural homelessness. I would therefore be very grateful to learn what experience readers have had in rural areas and suggestions to improve these services?

Homelessness and Health

2011-01-26T21:07:00.000Z

There are several debates about the average life expectancy of a rough sleeper but what are the real issues affecting their health.

Maintaining general good health on the streets can be difficult, as there is little chance to rest in order to recover from an illness. Health issues can creep up slowly in the form of diabetes (which is often hard to recognise at first by an individual) hep B or C, or HIV. Due to the nature of services provided it may not always be possible to get healthy and nutritional food, so inevitably overall health is affected.

Accessing medical services should not be too hard as most areas with a recognised homeless population should provide suitable support services. These may include drop in sessions at a day centre, hostel, or in some cases, a designated surgery for homeless clients.

Managing medication can be tricky, especially if there is nowhere to store it. Many day centres dislike handling or storing medication and GP surgeries are reluctant to provide daily prescriptions. Depending on the medication, it can be very valuable on the streets and can quickly be stolen.

Whilst not all rough sleepers will experience these problems, Outreach Workers need to be aware of these issues and thoroughly asses rough sleepers in order to identify appropriate support services.

Please comment and share your knowledge.

Patronising or Publicising?

2011-01-19T22:34:00.000Z

Last year we saw something called 'homeless chic' enter the fashion arena. Then we began to see more and more organisations fund-raising by organising 'Sleep outs'. It now seems that some people have begun to take time out of their everyday lives to experience life as a 'homeless person'.

On the one hand I realise these people may have good intentions, but are they misguided. Surely this is patronising to those that are forced into this way of life, or is it an honest way of publicising the issue and breaking down stereotypes?

Helping rough sleepers and homeless clients throughout the year.

2011-01-09T20:10:00.000Z

During the Christmas period, homeless organisations received great and valuable support from the general public. Many received donations of clothing, food, bedding, and money. But will this support continue as the year progresses? I fear that whilst the cold weather and life on the streets continue the levels of support will quickly dwindle.

How can we encourage the general public to help rough sleepers and homeless clients throughout the year? What can the public do as part of their every days lives, regardless of the time of year, to help tackle homelessness?

How effective has SWEP provision been?

2011-01-04T21:00:00.001Z

Most of the country has been affected by the cold weather over the last several weeks and as a result many local authorities have set up SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocols) to accommodate rough sleepers.The quality of accommodation can vary dramatically depending on the location. Local authorities have different services available and accommodation can range from purposely set up cold weather shelters, Bed and Breakfast accommodation, crash beds in hostels to a space on the floor of a hostel.

Has this SWEP provision been used by genuine rough sleepers and does it reflect homeless statistics and street count results, or are we finding more rough sleepers than we initially thought?

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from The Spike

2010-12-24T23:40:00.000Z

We would like to thank everyone who has followed and commented on The Spike this year. We have had a really successful start and hope the New Year is just as positive.

Although many Governmental services around the country are closed, we realise that many voluntary and charity organisations are busy during the Christmas period. If you would like to tell us about the great work that many people are doing over this holiday period, we would love to know.

Also, please let us know about any services that are available, that would otherwise be forgotten about, for rough sleepers and homeless clients.

Once again, Thank you, we really appreciate your support. Please keep on spreading the word about The Spike.

How important is a local connection when finding accommodation for homeless clients?

2010-12-08T22:24:00.000Z

Many hostels and accommodation providers around the country have waiting lists, as the services they provide are so much in demand. But many of these will have specific criteria when considering applications. One main factor is whether the individual has a local connection to the area. This is particularly the case with councils and Local authorities when assessing duty of care.

However, by prioritising those with a local connection we seem to be making it more difficult for people to travel around the country. The reasons for moving from one place to another can be as simple as freedom of choice, to be closer to family and friends, or to leave an old lifestyle behind.

Although I understand the need to deter people flocking to particular areas, it seems that we are denying them the right to choose where they live. If they are intent on moving to a specific area, they will be forced to sleep out in a new and unfamiliar environment.

Should hostels and accommodation providers be more open to those with local connections, or is it merely a way of preventing a flood of new comers, which could over burden particular areas and services?

Working with those that continue to refuse accomodation, even during the coldest weather.

2010-11-29T14:25:00.000Z

Now that winter is definatley here, cold weather provision services have been set up to ensure that everyone can access emergency accommodation.

Every year rough sleepers die on the streets, but when the weather gets very cold, many agencies set up emergency accommodation. Some cities have churches which open thier doors for the winter, such as the Church circuit in London. Many other cities work with homeless organisations to provide temporary accomodation in hostels and B&B's. Click here link for more information.

But there are still those that refuse all offers of accommodation despite the dropping temperatures. These are quite often people with mental health issues, who are considered unwell, but not seriously enough to be sectioned for their own welfare.

What can we do to ensure these clients are as safe as possible if they insist they will not leave the streets?

At what point is a person no longer considered to be homeless?

2010-11-24T22:35:00.000Z

For people with a history of rough sleeping, squatting or living in hostels moving into independent accommodation can be challenging.

The responsibilities of having a tenancy, budgeting and paying bills, together with the possibility of loneliness and isolation, can have a big impact on whether a person can break the cycle of homelessness. But once a person has settled and is comfortable where they are how easy is it to integrate into society with out the stigma affecting relationship or friendships.

At what point does a former homeless person leave the lifestyle behind? Is is time bound or can it be a state of mind?

Are Personalisation Budgets the way forward in combating homelessness?

2010-11-17T22:23:00.000Z

There have been many changes over the years with regards to how we work with rough sleepers and the services that are on offer to them. One of the most recent is Personalisation Budgets, also known as Individual Budgets (IB).

The idea of these budgets is to give rough sleepers control and a voice to choose what kind of support they feel they need the most. They choose a lead worker to support them within a multi agency team, and can choose how their budget will be spent in accordance with their individual suport plan.

This has been piloted by agencies in Exeter, North Devon, Northampton, London and Nottingham, who have specifically targetedentrenched rough sleepers with complex needs. To find out more about the individual pilots and the results, Click here.

In summary:

Exeter (found success in using it to access appropriate housing).
North Devon (used budgets to assist rough sleepers to settle into long term homes.)
Northampton (worked with the already existing service, but provided a specifically allocated worker. Also, identified three levels of care and support reqwuired by indiviasluals and provided budgets realting to these needs.)
London (used an already exisiting outreach worker with entrenched rough sleepers and gave the indivduals choices about accommodation options other than the 'traditional approaches' such as hostels.)
Nottingham (dedicated a 'rough sleepers personalisation officer' within its already exiting team, to find long term and suitable housing options for the most entrenched of rough sleepers.)

So far the findings of these pilots seem very positive. Can this be the solution to ending entrenched rough sleeping?

Are we able to solve the problem of the 'revolving door' of homelessness?

2010-11-09T15:18:00.000Z

Several years ago homeless organisations acknowledged the issue of ‘the revolving door of homelessness’. Through much hard work and cooperation with other agencies specific situations were identified, which were believed to be the contributory factors of the ‘revolving door’.The main body of these factors seem to be multiply linked to the criminal justice system, mental health issues, substance misuse, and homelessness.

In 2007 St. Mungo’s and Revolving Doors Agency (RDA) went into partnership and piloted a scheme in Islington, so as to identify ways of improving support and link work between agencies, “to prevent people from spiralling into a cycle of crisis, crime and mental health problems". Click here for link. It seems that this scheme showed some very positive results.

Now in October 2010, the Government are looking for further ways to tackle this issue, and have identified the issue of rehousing ex-offenders upon release. Click here for link.

While I understand that the lack of access to accommodation can be a contributory factor to re-offending rates, I don’t see how we can be specifically identify private sector accommodation as the solution to this issue. There is already pressure on the agencies to find appropriate accommodation options for homeless clients, within a limited stock of housing resources.

Can we be doing more to improve links between agencies and for service users or is the ‘System’ partly responsible for this ‘revolving door' of homelessness? What are the solutions?

Are sponsored sleep outs a good way of highlighting homelessness?

2010-11-02T10:39:00.000Z

There seems to be a growing trend by some homelessness agencies to raise funds and highlight the issues of homelessness by organising sponsored sleep outs. Most recently the new president of the YMCA, Sir Richard Dannant, slept out along with Norfolk’s High Sheriff Charles Barratt and Judge Phillip Curl. Click here for link and short video

While I commend those who try to accurately experience a night on the streets, I feel despair when I hear about those who turn a sponsored sleep out into some kind of camping holiday, all night street party and publicity stunt. For people that have to sleep rough this kind of fund-raising may be seen as patronising and very disrespectful.

It seems that fund-raising teams are running out of ideas. Maybe we (the readers of The Spike) should help them out with a few suggestions, that would be less disrespectful to rough sleepers and those that sleep out in the cold every night.

How will the Community Spending Review cuts really affect homelessness and what are the solutions?

2010-10-25T21:03:00.000+01:00

It seems that there are several different ways the Community Spending Review will impact upon homeless clients:

Changes to Housing Benefit payments. Anyone under 35 years old (previously 25 years old) will receive just enough to cover the cost of a shared house. Will this affect those living in hostels? How will it affect those single people already in independent accommodation settling after years of homelessness?
Council Tax Benefit is to be reduced by 10%. How will this affect those already struggling to keep up with household bills and payments?
Changes to ESA (Employment Support Allowance) and JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) payments depending on contributions made and length receiving specific benefits. How will this affect those most vulnerable and unable to work?
Less funding for probation services, yet fewer people sent to prison. Where do offenders get support from and where is the incentive to prevent people reoffending?

Please comment if you can identify any more areas relating to homelessness that will be affected by the spending review, with any comments for solutions.

End rough sleeping by 2012. Is this realistic?

2010-10-18T09:35:00.000+01:00

The government (London Delivery Board) have stuck to its plan of ending rough sleeping in London by 2012. It initially began by targeting entrenched rough sleepers and is now planning to open something called The Hub. Which would seem to act as a short stay hostel for rough sleepers (three nights max). See Inside Housing link for further details.Click Here

If we consider the many ways in which people become homeless and the issues they face, as well as the lack of accommodation, is this a realistic plan? For many outreach workers it can be almost impossible to get access to accommodation at short notice. Although I understand the importance of reducing the length of time people are on the streets, additional resources need to be provided by the Government to enable outreach workers to tackle this issue head on. At the moment I don’t see any commitment from the government to provide additional resources.

I wonder if the sceptics are right when they say that this commitment to reduce homelessness to near zero is an excuse to tidy up London before the 2012 Olympics and less about the social injustice of people falling through the net and having to live on the streets until help finds them.

Do front line homelessness workers need vocational qualifications?

2010-10-12T11:55:00.000+01:00

Engage to Change has been developed by Homeless Link, Broadway and CIH (Chartered Institute of Housing) and is a qualification for people working in homelessness services. The course includes topics such as Professional Practice Skills, Client Involvement, Homeless Services and Prevention, Addressing Need, Building Capacity and Promoting Choice. See the link below for more information about the course.

http://www.cih.org/training/engage-to-change/

All homelessness front line workers should have CRB checks (Criminal record bureau), but do they need formal recognition and professional standards? Most outreach workers bring with them their own experiences (personal or employment) and knowledge to the job and find that the skills required are vast ranging. Does this course build on their already broad skills base or is it a professional label?

Will it assist workers in their job, and help to reduce homelessness by creating more effect working?

We would particularly love to hear from anyone that has done or is doing the course.

Why are there so few housing options for homeless couples?

2010-10-04T19:24:00.000+01:00

Although a high proportion of rough sleepers are single men, there are times when, despite all the odds, people form relationships whilst on the streets. From experience, working with couples can be very challenging. It is the responsibility of an outreach worker to undertake an assessment for each individual and ensure each persons needs are fully understood. However, at no stage of the assessment process is the relationship status of an individual considered. A joint plan must be decided between the couple with regards to accommodation. This is all achievable until a search for hostels is undertaken and it becomes evident that there are only a handful of places in the country that take couples and when they do, there is never a guarantee that two beds are available on the same day.

Why are there so few hostels willing to accept couples? Is it the complicated nature of clients being in relationships, or is it all about housing benefits, bed spaces and allocations?

What are the other options for couples if there aren’t any suitable facilities in their area? Should homeless couples be forced to either sleep on the streets until they can access local authority housing (if they are entitled to it), or end their relationship?

No Recourse to Public Funds and Homeless

2010-09-27T09:47:00.007+01:00

What services are available to those who are homeless and have no access to public funds?
The Home office has produced a document stating exactly what people can and can not access regarding benefits, which is a good starting point. Please see attached link.

(http://docs.google.com/viewera=v&q=cache:pOvGtu5IfqMJ:www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/residency/publicfunds.pdf+no+recourse+to+public+funds&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShETnrJ9E-_42X_G2nnDHKt_1rdT5-FHX6Qbe5Dz2hrieG-YgJXoAbLlDFhweNSrwgKnN7XQ82XThINgCHHOTBDkOscY1HBurNf1g23YfMDava_cYoo3sjU3B288-k9WjNC6Edx&sig=AHIEtbTPgeLlLs9TmMcVxW1LEyjs2g366A).

For outreach workers and front line staff who have contact with rough sleepers and homeless clients, this is not enough information. We need to know what other services are out there so that people can eat, sleep and survive.

First, the age old debate of soup runs and food hand outs and whether they encourage people to maintain a life on the streets, or assist people by providing access to a valuable source of free food. For those that have no money, for whatever reason at least it is an opportunity for them get clean and healthy food, instead of starving, raiding bins, or worse cooking and eating rats (see blog discussion from the week of 12^th September
http://thespike2010.blogspot.com/2010/09/expulsion-of-homeless-eea-nationals.html ).

Secondly, using day centres. Where people can make contact with local services (usually outside agencies have regular sessions, such as nurses, mental health workers, benefits advisors or legal advice) which they may otherwise feel unsure about accessing. Day centres usually have a clothing store, washing facilities and offer hot drinks, some also allow service users to use them as a care of address.

But, What else?

Women with no recourse to funds and who are trapped in relationships which are possibly abusive or violent, there is little help as refuges tend to require their service users to be on benefits. The Women’s Resource Centre has been campaigning for action, Click Here

Those who need medical care, there is the option of accessing an HC1 or HC2 form, which can help with the cost of prescriptions, dental treatment, sight tests and paying for glasses, travel to and from hospital for treatment or for wigs and fabric supports. (Please note, I can not confirm that applications for these items are always accepted, as I have not used these forms. I would like to hear about applications that others have made and if they have been successful).

Any other suggestions would be much appreciated, please add your comments.

What difference will changes to the way street counts are conducted make to the way we tackle homelessness?

2010-09-19T21:27:00.000+01:00

In the lead up to the election, Grant Shapps promised changes. This week we have seen these changes implemented in a document produced by the Communities and Local Government body
(CGL )called Evaluating the Extent of Rough Sleeping: A new approach http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/roughsleepingevaluate

New guidelines have been introduced with regards to both counting rough sleepers and undertaking counts. Previously only local authorities that had more than 10 rough sleepers (known as ‘hotspots’) were required to undertake a count. Now all local authorities are required to. However, once a count has been done, local authorities can decide how they supply the information, including the option of providing an estimate rather than an actual count number. Within these guidelines, there have also been changes to the way rough sleepers are counted. For the first time those that look like they are about to bed down, as well as those in tents, can be included within the count.
What difference will these changes actually make to the way we tackle homelessness? The new figures produced by these guidelines will show a more accurate indication of the number of rough sleepers, but will there be any extra support for the services working with this client group, or will we continue to see more and more cuts in funding?

The Expulsion of Homeless EEA Nationals.

2010-09-12T19:54:00.002+01:00

The Roma people and many others have left their native countries and moved legally to a fellow EU Member state in search of a better and more prosperous life. Many of these people are, however, unable to find work and are soon perceived to be placing a burden on their new country.

It is clearly evident that many people who find themselves in this position are desperate to avoid deportation to their native country. A fact best demonstrated by reports of outreach workers finding people cooking and eating rats just to survive(see link - http://www.insidehousing.co.uk//6511126.article).

An inevitable result of this situation is an increase in the number of rough sleepers as people at risk of 'disappearing' in an effort to avoid deportation.

As a long established EU Member should the British Government take responsibility for these people and provide them with the same benefits and services as a British Citizen? Or, are they just an additional burden on Britain?

Are we supporting homeless ex-service men and women enough?

2010-09-06T11:24:00.017+01:00

When completing housing and hostel referral forms, very few request information about serving history, discharge or even mention service personnel. We look at providing support for many of the bi-products related to serving in the forces, such as mental health issues, alcohol or drug abuse. But, we fail to acknowledge institutionalisation which can make 'civi street' very hard to cope with and life in general.
Although there are services to assist ex-service men with everyday issues, such as SSAFA, we as outreach workers do not specialise in this specific need as some may in mental health or addictions. I doubt that many workers have been offered training around such an issue.

How can we best prepare ourselves to effectively support ex-service men and women, so that we can assess their needs thoroughly and access services effectively?

Homeless Clients and Dogs

2010-08-31T22:49:00.012+01:00

For many rough sleepers parting with a dog is inconceivable. We know that the relationship between an owner and a dog can be a strong one, providing an emotional bond, personal safety and security, it can alleviate loneliness and even raise self esteem. There are some very good services which support homeless clients to look after their pets, such as The Dogs Trust with their Freedom Project and Hope Project (www.dogstrust.org.uk).
So many hostels still refuse clients with pets, while those that do, have waiting lists.

However there is always more than one side of the story. What about those that have dogs, yet show them very little affection and care? Or clients that are struggling to look after themselves, let alone another being.
Should we be calling the RSPCA or the Dog Warden and what can they actually do? Or should we take matters into our own hands?

(picture by Matthew Halstead http://matthewhalstead.com/ )

Benefit cuts to those refusing to engage with alcohol or drug treatments.

2010-08-23T12:05:00.005+01:00

Would proposals to cut benefits to those addicted to alcohol or drugs, and refuse to enter into treatment have the desired effect of encouraging them to 'kick' the habit? Or, would a cut in benefits lead users to commit crime to further fund habits, thereby increasing conviction rates and prison numbers?

People can not be forced into quitting an addiction, they have to want to do it for themselves and not because the government or a judge say they should. Personal determination is the key to their strength.
For anyone not ready to make the change, I doubt that the threat of loosing benefits has an impact. Some addicts, may have either committed a crime or thought about committing a crime in order to fund their habit and supplement their primary income.
By removing benefits, addicts will surely be forced to find ever more activities to fund habits. I wonder what is more cost effective, paying benefits to an individual, drug treatment services for those that want to change or paying for extra police time, as well as courts and prison costs.

Mental Health Services and Chaotic Rough Sleepers

2010-08-15T22:17:00.005+01:00

Chaotic and entrenched rough sleepers can be hard to track down by even the most experienced of outreach and front line workers. Can we really say they that their needs are being fully met? Are mental and physical health services willing to go a step further or do we have to wait for them to become so unwell they 'become a danger to themselves or others'?

Busking is more acceptable than begging.

2010-08-08T19:26:00.004+01:00

Many of our cities seem to be trying to tackle begging by encouraging busking. But is this really dealing with the issue, or are they just making it a legitimate form of begging and therefore more socially acceptable?

The impact of Government spending cuts

2010-08-01T20:12:00.006+01:00

Given that Government spending cuts will potentially affect front line services, is Britain facing a new homelessness crisis?

How much is too much?

2010-07-25T23:10:00.004+01:00

Being on the front line is both rewarding and challenging. At times the challenge can go too far. When a client is verbally or physically abusive, where do we draw the line?
How do we protect ourselves emotionally and physically, while continuing to provide a service to our clients?

Lifestyle choice or mental health issue?

2010-07-18T14:58:00.002+01:00

Entrenched rough sleeping is a difficult and often sensitive issue. These clients have been on the streets for so long and yet seem to be coping well in so many ways. But at what point do we take a step back and say it is a lifestyle choice or delve deeper? Are there underlying mental health issues, that are preventing them from accepting accommodation?