Written by Louise Henry
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICHARD NEWSTEAD AND YUN HAN XU
The Beast from the East may have gone back into hiding until next year, but come rain or shine, the streets are still a dangerous place for London’s homeless. Between 2016 and 2017, over 8,000 people were sleeping rough in our city, a figure that continues to rise each year. At the tail end of last year, Mayor Sadiq Khan launched a rough sleeping campaign: a coalition of 18 charities all working together to end homelessness on our streets. At the time of writing, £145,000 had been raised for the cause, spurred on in particular by the cold spell that took the lives of multiple homeless people across the UK.
When temperatures plummet below zero, it’s natural for our thoughts to turn to those facing the elements. But this is a problem that transcends seasons. On the government website, Sadiq Khan states “Rough sleeping doesn’t just happen in winter – people are out on our streets every night of the year, and everyone needs to do more.”
So, in the spirit of doing more, here’s how you can make a difference.
Smile
No, a friendly nod won’t save lives, but there’s a lot to be said for treating someone as an equal. Enough barriers are in place to separate rough sleepers from the rest of society, and kindness can go far further than spare change. Chances are, you pass the same people on your commute, or outside the supermarket. Next time you walk by, say hello and smile as you would to a neighbour.
Know your stuff
Shelters, food banks and donation points are frequently forced to change sites. Many charities and organisations share updates on social media, which is pretty useless to someone without access to a smartphone. Keep an eye on digital campaigns from local charities, and get to know where your local overnight shelter is. After all, signposting vulnerable people towards a hot meal or a place to stay can be a real lifeline.
Tell someone
Over 23,000 referrals have been made through Streetlink, an alert service that connects homeless people to nearby services. Available online, over the phone, and via mobile app, simply inform them of a rough sleeper’s location, which will then be passed onto an outreach team.
Donate
An obvious one, yes, but you won’t necessarily need to search the dregs of your wallet.
Food banks are lifesavers, quite literally. Most London boroughs have at least one. Alternatively, take a look at The Trussell Trust. Here you can donate non-perishable food, money or perhaps even draw up a partnership. If you work in a shop, café, or restaurant, why not donate surplus food that would otherwise be destined for the bin.
Toiletries and beauty products are a rare commodity on the streets, but thanks to beauty journalists Sali Hughes and Jo Jones, ‘hygiene poverty’ is no longer a hidden myth. Hotel samples, unwanted Christmas sets, or the odd box of tampons will all be welcomed with here open arms.
Money talks, as they say, and your cash can do some serious work. There are a lot of charities out there doing good things, but our favourites include Centrepoint, Thames Reach, and Streetlink.
Volunteer
Again, volunteering isn’t a new concept, but perhaps something to rethink. You’re busy, we’re all busy, but if you counted up the hours spent on Instagram, or queuing for coffee, and translated it into an hour of making beds at a homeless shelter, we bet you’d feel pretty great.
Use your skills. Social media management, blogging and accounting are all valuable ways to support a charity from the comfort of your own home.
Cook meals for soup kitchens or overnight shelters, even if you don’t have the time to stay and serve, one portion of your Sunday afternoon batch cooking could go a long way.
If you’d prefer to adopt a more hands-on approach, join an outreach team or take on a voluntary role as a support worker.
The worst of the weather might have gone, but rough sleepers still deserve our attention and care.
