‘No one needs to sleep rough this Christmas’
COUNCIL PLEDGES PLACES TO STAY WHILE CHARITIES PROVIDE DECEMBER 25 DINNERS
NO rough sleepers will be spending the night on the streets in Leicester this winter, says the council – despite having no government cash as Covid cases surge.
At the height of previous waves of the virus, the government launched the Everyone In initiative to provide accommodation for rough sleepers.
Leicester City Council has said about 900 people were moved into longer term accommodation as a result of that project.
Now, despite the more virulent Omicron strain of coronavirus spreading around the country, the council has said there are “no specific requirements linked to Omicron pertinent to those rough sleeping”.
A spokesperson for the council said: “We are not using dormitory style accommodation again this winter, and have instead arranged for an additional 40-plus independent winter beds through the council and partners.
“When temperatures are low, as they are at the moment, we support anyone that requires help to get off the street and find a place to stay.”
Charities, faith groups, the city council and other organisations will also be providing a range of services throughout the festive period for those sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness.
Councillor Elly Cutkelvin, the city council’s assistant mayor for housing said: “Our emergency hostel the Dawn Centre is open every day of the year, including Christmas Day, and our aim is that no one needs to sleep rough in Leicester at any time of year.
“Local charities and faith groups provide amazing support all year round, and at Christmas they go the extra mile to make sure the most vulnerable people in the city can have a Christmas meal, some good company and the basic necessities we all take for granted.
“We’re very grateful for the work they do, which makes a huge difference to people’s lives, and is needed more than ever at this time of year.”
Among the charities putting on a
Christmas lunch is the Falcon Support Services, in Loughborough, which is raising money for their annual Festive Falcon Campaign, which will also allow them to open up more beds over the holidays.
Rachel Hall, the company’s deputy chief executive, said this is a particularly important year for homeless services.
She said: “Homelessness is on the increase and I think we are in a bit of a perfect storm really with Universal Credit changes, furlough ending and people are really struggling at the moment.
“It’s really important that we can offer something to those who are in
need at this time and to more people than we normally would do.
“We have 98 beds as a charity, but we put two more on over Christmas. The Christmas lunch is for residents, but also anyone out on the streets or who is vulnerable in the community as well, if they’re socially isolated for example.
“They can just call or pop into the day centre and put their name down so we know how many we’re cooking for. We don’t normally turn people away, we just extend the table further through the building. It’s a really nice atmosphere on Christmas Day.”
The charity, in The Falcon Centre, in Pinfold Gate, is hoping to raise around £15,000 throughout December. Currently, about £3,000 has been donated.
Ms Hall said: “It’s really difficult because we don’t ever want to see anyone on the streets, but there is a risk that the beds could close early if we haven’t got the funding. But we do try where possible to be resourceful with what we can deliver.
“It’s really important for us that we get those donations and support. We do rely on public donations to deliver a lot of our community services and all the additional stuff that we do.
“If someone comes to us and they need money for rent in advance or they need ID to get bank accounts or something like that, we’ll always assist financially.
“So it’s the stuff that isn’t funded that we do like to be able to deliver so we can get people off the streets and out of homelessness.”
People can donate via the Falcon Support Service website or they can go on to their social media to find out about upcoming events.
In Leicester, the city council’s
Dawn Centre is open 24/7 to provide an emergency bed and day centre activities.
The council’s homeless outreach team goes out in the city centre in the early hours of every weekday, looking for rough sleepers to offer them a bed and other support. At weekends, local charity Help the Homeless provides the same service.
Other services on offer over the Christmas period include:
Christmas Day dinner, no referral needed, Robert Hall Memorial Baptist Church, Narborough Road.
Hot festive veggie dinner, pudding and mince pies to take away from the Midland Langa Seva Society, St Peter’s Highfields Church on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Christmas Day dinner at the Bridge Homelessness to Hope (referrals only). Breakfast and lunch served daily, shower and clothes washing facilities and social activities also available.
Holy Trinity Church food hampers available. Food available every Friday including December 24 and 31.
Christmas Eve hot food takeaway available from Help the Homeless, Abbey Street.
Full details of all services available can be found on the council’s website at: