Five ways to help the homeless at Christmas
HOW YOU CAN AID CITY’S ROUGH SLEEPERS
MANCHESTER city council’s fight to reduce the number of people who are homeless goes on 365 days of the year.
Through the Manchester Homelessness Partnership, the council is doing more than ever to help every person who is sleeping rough, or at risk of losing their home.
But additional help from the public is always welcome.
The kindness of Mancunians has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for homelessness causes through the years and undoubtedly helped get people off the streets for good.
Here are five ways you can help to tackle homelessness this Christmas. 1. IF YOU SEE SOMEONE SLEEPING ROUGH , TELL THE COUNCIL
The council’s outreach team is out every day engaging with people who live on the streets.
But, it also relies on members of the public reporting where people are sleeping rough so it can get them the food, shelter and support they need.
Visit manchester.gov.uk/ homelessness to report what you see. 2. ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET HELP
The council and its partners offer food and shelter to the homeless, but it can also provide advice and support for a range of complex issues including debt, mental health problems, as well as alcohol and drug addiction.
Visit streetsupport.net for a full list of our partner services and how they can help. 3. GIVE TO BIG CHANGE
The Big Change MCR campaign has raised more than £250,000 since its creation and helped more than 1,500 people.
Whether helping to pay for rent, or buy kitchen essentials, any donation made to Big Change will go towards transforming lives in Manchester.
Donate online or text ‘REAL01£1’ (or your chosen amount). 4. DONATE ITEMS
A pair of socks or a sleeping bag donated to a homelessness charity can make all the difference as they go about their work supporting people who are sleeping rough. Visit streetsupport.net to find a list of organisations working in Manchester, what items they need, and how best you can donate to them. 5. GIVE YOUR TIME Volunteers are the lifeblood of so many homelessness organisations and charities.
Helping with fundraising, teaching people new skills or supporting backroom staff with administration are just three ways in which volunteers can support charities.
Visit streetsupport.net to learn how you can make a difference.
Manchester city council’s deputy leader Coun Sue Murphy, said: “Time and again the people of Manchester dig deep and show their generosity at Christmas.
“If you can help in any of these five ways you will be making a huge difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable members of society.”
You will be making a huge difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable Coun Sue Murphy