Cruel to be kind over cash for the homeless
ASOUTHPORT outreach centre for rough sleepers is urging people to stop giving money to the town’s homeless.
Light for Life on Eastbank Street works with vulnerable people to bring about change in their lives.
A spokesperson for the centre said that anyone asked for help and money should direct people to the appropriate services, rather than giving them cash.
Light for Life CEO Greta Fenney said: “We have seen the damage that this money can do and the relation it has to drugs, gangs, violence, abuse and we are working hard with other agencies to address this.
“We know that human instinct is to want to help and that the people of Southport are extremely generous but sometimes, that generosity is being abused and is sometimes contributing to the cycle of harm we are working hard to break with our colleagues in the police and other services.”
Since 2015, the centre has provided support to 54 individuals.
Each of these individuals has had a full assessment of their needs, opportunities to access emergency accommodation, a full review of their benefits and entitlements with support to make new claims, opportunities to move into longer term accommodation, introductions to training, volunteering and paid employment, and where appropriate support to attend hearings at Magistrates Court and subsequent intensive work to prevent reoffending.
The centre was also contracted to provide a new Rough Sleeper Service for the Borough.
The service provides outreach workers across Sefton who engage with Rough Sleepers. Referrals come from the public, Merseyside Police, Streetlink and a range of agencies working with vulnerable people.
Outreach workers will carry out an assessment of their situation and give details of the services available immediately to them that night.
Not all individuals wish to accept that advice in the first instance and sometimes it takes intensive work with people to encourage them to use the services available to them.
The accommodation available to this vulnerable group is of a great standard and is a far cry from the traditional hostels of ten or twenty years ago.
Greta went on to say that not all of the individuals who the public may come across begging on Chapel Street or Lord Street are necessarily without a roof over their heads, or in some cases, without funds.
She added: “Some have made lifestyle choices which present barriers to them working with services to establish safer living environments and behaviours. We work hard to break down those barriers and we have had some great successes and have seen people change their lives, secure accommodation, break habits and progress to training and working.
“There are some, however, who are not yet ready to make those very difficult choices and decisions and we cannot force them.
“Those who are claiming to be homeless have been offered services and emergency accommodation/temporary accommodation and have chosen not to accept the offer.
“This clearly places them at risk from others and from the cold in winter months.”
If you wish to report a rough sleeper, you can do so by telephoning 07918746042 and leaving a message for the outreach team.
Alternatively, you can email shc@ lightforlife.org.uk, or contact SMBC or Streetlink, who will pass the referral on to Light For Life.