Homeless still in need of support
Homeless people in the borough have had to contend with all sorts of challenges this year, from reduced hours at homeless support charities to difficulties with temporary accommodation. Reporter Adrian Williams looks at the challenges that have been prese
Over the pandemic, homeless people in the Royal Borough have been largely housed in temporary accommodation – yet they have still encountered daily struggles worsened by the virus.
The number of places for homeless people to visit during the day has declined, with some hubs needing to reduce their hours of operation due to lack of volunteers.
Many homeless people have struggled with isolation as a result of not being able to gather together as a community, as they normally would.
Windsor Homeless Project remained open for socially distanced visits, providing hot lunches for people and a place to socialise.
Sitting at tables socially distanced, the Windsor Homeless Project has managed to stay safe with no suspected COVID cases.
Visitors wear their masks while walking around, sanitise hands and have their temperature checked as they walk through the door.
Windsor Homeless Project had to reduce its opening hours when tier 4 came in but otherwise has been continuing as normal.
“This counts as a vital service, because it’s important it continues – or people start to stagnate or go backwards,” said Nick Roberts, project manager of Windsor Homeless Project.
“Christmas has been a lonely time of year for them as they have no contact with family.”
Odin Nash has been living in a guest house for two months. He has struggled with not being able to see his mother who is vulnerable and needs some care. Odin is the only family member available to help.
“Windsor Homeless have been good, they dropped some food off to my mum when she needed it,” he said. “It’s been hard, I haven’t been able to do things I used to do. Mental health problems don’t help.
“I keep myself to myself when I’m in the guesthouse – I mainly just sleep there. It’s good to have a roof over my head,” he said. “If I have to self-isolate there it shouldn’t be a problem, because you’re not allowed guests there.”
The guest houses did not have any kind of Christmas celebration arranged, even before tier 4 restrictions came in, making it harder for anyone to mix.
Rachel (not her real name) frequently visits Windsor Homeless Project with her labrador cross, PreciousAnne.
“It’s the only place where I can get food that accepts dogs,” she said. “Other places have told me she can only come if she’s kept in a cage.”
The pair have been together since March, all through both lockdowns.
“She’s my life,” said Rachel. Rachel, who is transgender, has moved around a lot from temporary accommodation to temporary accommodation, due mainly to transphobic harassment.
“I’m not accepted for who I am and that has led to my homelessness,” she said. “The statistics for trans people are depressing.”