Homeless hero’s decade of caring Father offers food, clothing, furniture ... and haircuts
AFATHER of three has been named a local hero for helping the homeless for over 10 years.
Muhammad Aziz, 42, of Rochdale saw the dire situation of homelessness and decided to help those in need and continued to do so throughout the pandemic.
From 2010 to 2017 Mr Aziz owned a second hand furniture shop in Ashton-under-lyne.
He fed and clothed the homeless and donated furniture from his shop.
Mr Aziz also offers haircuts for homeless people where ever they may be.
A few volunteers and his family and friends offer him a helping hand.
“It’s really sad there are empty buildings in Rochdale. These people shouldn’t be sleeping on the streets,” he told the Rochdale Observer.
A 2019 report from homelessness charity Shelter revealed some shocking figures regarding homelessness in the Rochdale borough.
Rochdale has the fifth highest rate of homeless children in the North West, where one in every 467 children are homeless.
When adults are taken into account, the borough of Rochdale places eighth, with 182 people being homeless - one in every 1,207 people.
Mr Aziz, has heard many heart-breaking stories from people running from domestic abuse, to people no longer being able to afford rent after their benefits were stopped. He said:
“Recently I managed to get one young man, who was sleeping rough on the Syke Moors, temporary accommodation in Rochdale.
“Winter is coming and I didn’t want him to get hurt or injured by local youths who sometimes bully homeless people,” he said.
He refers to people struggling with accommodation to Petrus and Sanctuary Trust and works with a soup kitchen called Army of Kindness.
Mr Aziz has also worked with an organisation called Parents Against Grooming which helps to prevent homeless people from being groomed.
The organisation has given Mr Aziz vital essentials such as bedding, clothes and shoes for the homeless.
The father-of-three said: “Some homeless people have special needs. The council need to employ support workers and vulnerable people need places where they can go to for support.
“A lot of homeless people have anxiety and depression as well as other serious mental health issues. They are desperate. They need someone to talk and to communicate with.”
Mr Aziz has also travelled to Ashton-underLyne and Manchester to help the homeless.
He noticed how much food is going to waste in shops and has been turned down after requesting food donations from some supermarkets.
“Supermarkets could play a big role in helping the homeless. There is so much food that goes to waste that is not even out of date. Instead of throwing away food, supermarkets can donate it to soup kitchens.
“I’m grateful to all the businesses that gave me discounts on food and to the individuals who donated,” he said.
The UK throws away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in a single year – even though 8.4 million people in the UK are in food poverty.
This year The Independent revealed supermarkets are throwing away the equivalent of 190 million meals a year that could be given to the hungry.
Demand at food banks has soared during the pandemic, as more than half a million people have been pushed into poverty.
According to the Food Standards Agency, up to 3.7 million adults sought charity food or used a food bank in April and May last year.
Mr Aziz has become a pillar in the community and has fostered strong bonds with many locals.
He was born in Kashmir came to the UK in 1984. He is the father of two boys and one girl and studied law at Sheffield Hallam University. Friend
Steve Sanderson, 62, said: “I met Muhammad many years ago when KYP was set up in the area where we both lived. He has also put a lot of work into KYP over the years.
“When I would go to Saudi Arabia on business, I always brought Zamzam water back for him to share in his community.
“Muhammad cares about the community he lives in and wants to make things better by helping those in need.
“Especially for people who have slipped between the cracks in the care system and do not get help from charities or councils.
“He helps people with mental health problems caused by alcohol or poor life decisions who some others have given up on.”
KYP is a leading independent charity that offers various services including bilingual welfare advice, child care and adult care and business support.
Mr Aziz does not just dedicate his time to help homeless individuals but everyone in the community. The 42-year-old helps people with job searches, CVS and preparing for interviews and signposts them to the relevant job agencies.
From January to August he played a significant role in encouraging people to get the vaccine and helped people access vaccine clinics from Littleborough to Langley.
He also works closely with local mosques and helps new Muslims network with other Muslims in Greater Manchester.
He hopes that his book ‘Choosing Islam’ will help converts to not feel alone and feel part of a community.
Ashley Dearnley, Conservative Councillor for Wardle and West Littleborough, said: “Muhammad is a visible presence on an almost daily basis.
“He engages with people, is always smiling and he makes them feel wanted, cared for and important.
“He always has time for everyone and encourages people to do the right thing. He’s a wonderful character and our town is better for him and all that is better for people.
“In his cheery way and truck full of stuff he makes people feel so much better.”