How to help the homeless as bitter weather begins to bite
Organisations across Bath and North East Somerset are offering help to people who sleep rough or who are at risk of becoming homeless this winter.
B&NES Council and Homeless Partnership agencies work together throughout the year to ensure anyone rough sleeping has an offer of accommodation in severe weather.
Cafes across the area have also signed up to help rough sleepers by providing warm spaces and a hot drink during the day.
The Genesis Lifeline Centre also offers day time facilities, including on Saturday mornings from December 2.
At Julian House’s Manvers Street hostel in Bath, there is takeaway food provision available for clients who are street rough sleeping. This is available for breakfast from 7am to 10am, lunch from 1pm to 2pm and dinner from 7pm to 8pm.
Anyone concerned about someone they have seen sleeping rough can alert the partner services via the Streetlink website or by calling 0300 500 0914 so that the person can be connected with local support. If the person is under 18, people need to contact the police.
People wishing to donate or volunteer to help people who sleep rough are asked to contact Julian House or DHI to find out what they need.
In Bath, Nationwide Building Society on Stall Street also has a ‘Tap and Donate’ point for contactless donations. Julian House administers the fund to help equip people with the items they need when they are moving on from sleeping rough.
Billychip is a platform that allows the public to directly donate to rough sleepers without the fear of their donation being misused.
The chips can be bought and redeemed in coffee shops and takeaways for food and drink. People can look out for the Billychip symbol in cafe windows.
People are asked not to donate items that enable people to prolong living on the streets, including tents and bedding.
The most dangerous item given to people sleeping rough is a camping gas stove which can be lethal if used inside tents.
A directory of warm spaces can be found at: https://livewell.bathnes.gov.uk/warm-places-list.
Contact details for the Homelessness Partnership organisations are:
Julian House – visit www.julianhouse.org.uk, email admin@julianhouse.org.uk or call 01225 354650.
DHI – visit www.dhi-online.org. uk, email info@dhi-online.org.uk or call 01225 478730
Genesis Trust – visit genesistrust. org.uk, email office@genesistrust. org.uk or call 01225 463549
Mental health support from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership www.awp.nhs.uk.