Kelly’s cause aims to help the homeless
ABIGAIL DONOGHUE
AWOMAN from Widnes wants people to remember the ‘hidden homeless’ of the community over the New Year.
Taking A Walk In Their Shoes is a page on Facebook that was set up by Kelly Harrison, 32 last year. She uses the page to collect donations for homeless people in the Halton community and spread the word about the help that is needed.
Speaking to the Weekly News about why she started Taking A Walk In Their Shoes she said: “Having been homeless myself when I was 16 for three years living in hostels and temporary accommodation I understand completely the struggles and barriers that people face.
“I have now been working and volunteering in homelessness for eight years and I wouldn’t do anything else, I love it.”
“I dedicate practically all of my time to helping others.”
Kelly currently works full time in Brennan Lodge, a 39 bed homeless hostel in Widnes. Alongside this she volunteers and runs Taking A Walk In Their Shoes.
Recently an event was put on to raise money for the cause by Almaz Duo. They came up with the idea for a busking event.
Kelly said: “I was blown away by their efforts especially in the weather conditions they played and sang in.
“We will hopefully be organising another gig which will take place inside Widnes market.
Looking towards the future she said: “I am also looking at doing a sponsored sleep out with all funds raised going towards making our homeless less hungry by providing food, buying essential clothing and footwear, furniture for when people move on into their own homes and going on days out and taking them away from their daily struggles and enjoying an activity or a meal they wouldn’t usually have the opportunity to experience.”
Kelly has seen support from hundreds of people, with over 400 people lik- ● ing the page. She said: “I have been totally blown away by the generosity and kindness of people donating food and Christmas presents, local businesses donating selection boxes and pyjamas, small businesses offering premises as donation points and members of the public bringing in donations to the hostel.”
Talking about a backlash that she has received she said: “There has been some criticism though with people commenting that people in hostels are not homeless. Because they are indoors please do no think this.
“Hostels are temporary accommodation and the people living in them are our hidden homeless.
“Just because they are not rough sleeping doesn’t mean they are not homeless, these are one of the most vulnerable social categories in society.
“These are people with broken souls that need our love and support to rebuild their lives. We have a lot of young people in at the minute who have had family breakdowns and found themselves with nowhere to go.
“Men that have worked all their lives and lost their family again due to relationship breakdowns, people with mental health who cannot cope and need that extra support before trying to live independently, people who use drugs and alcohol as a way of escapism from the horrible things they have encountered, people who have fought for our county living with PTSD and struggling.
“Just because they have a roof over their head does not mean they are not homeless, they have a single bed in a room, and are awaiting somewhere they can finally call home while constantly facing challenges by the benefit system, relying on food banks, as well as all their other struggles just trying to survive another day.”
A link to a gofundme page can be found on the Facebook page Taking A Walk In Their Shoes and if anyone who would like to donate can also drop Kelly a message on her Facebook page.