Personally and professionally, passing rough sleepers in the streets both touches me and leaves me feeling helpless about how to respond. That’s what led me to try and help in a small way by raising funds for two homeless charities as I seek to complete -rather than compete- the Castle Howard Olympic Triathalon this July. Thank you to those who joined me in swimming, running and riding for rough sleepers.
Jimmy’s
Jimmy’s provides practical help for rough sleeprs in the community where I live and work.
For 25 years, Jimmy’s has been providing help to people experiencing homelessness in Cambridge. Jimmy’s work with local people, communities, organisations, and partners to deliver 24/7 emergency help, support and accommodation for those who would otherwise be sleeping rough.
As well as emergency accommodation, Jimmy’s run a residential Controlled Drinking Project for people recovering from alcohol addiction, 9 shared houses and 6 modular homes for people who need extra support. They will also be taking on 17 new modular homes in early 2021.
Every £150 raised will help employ a Mental Health Support Worker for a day to provide individual support to those in Jimmy’s accommodation services and tackle root causes of homelessness.
Crisis
Crisis is a national charity working to influence policy and develop new ways to help end homelessness and rough sleeping.
Crisis works side by side with people to help them rebuild their lives. From decades of experience of working with thousands of homeless people, they know what’s needed to leave homelessness behind for good. They use this experience to shape the services they provide and the policy changes they campaign for.
Crisis carry out pioneering research into the causes and consequences of homelessness, and campaign for the changes needed to end it for everyone, for good. Working with others, Crisis is producing a plan to end homelessness once and for all.
Post-pandemic steps for ending rough sleeping
One of the good news stories to emerge during the COVID-19 pandemic was the temporary reduction in rough sleepers on our streets. As our town and city centres reopen, I have tried to learn more about what might be the prospects for capturing the learning and taking post-pandemic steps for ending rough sleeping on our streets. If you are curious, you can read my blog on post-pandemic steps for ending rough sleeping and help add to the understanding.
