People become homeless for lots of different reasons. These people are extremely vulnerable and often hidden from our view so it is very important that they can get help as soon as possible. In Bournemouth there is charity called CRi that work with homeless people every day, they do their best to encourage people to come inside and get the support they need. All the money raised by this campaign goes straight to CRi so that they can improve Bournemouth’s day centres (Bournemouth Council):
FAQs
About Homelessness and the Begging Awareness Campaign
Q: Why is this campaign necessary?
A: Not many people know that active street begging is against the law and that many beggars are not actually homeless. We want to promote a better way of helping genuine homeless people by encouraging members of the public to donate directly to a registered charity by texting KIND64 £1 to 70070 instead of giving cash to people begging.
Q: Where exactly will the money that is raised go?
A: Donations go to ‘CRi’ a charity that works directly with homeless people in Bournemouth. They provide a day centre service where people who have been sleeping rough can get help and support with things like medical attention and housing advice.
Q: Does all of the money go to charity or does the council take a percentage?A: 100% of text donations and 95% of online donations go to CRi. Because we have used Just Giving a small percentage of the online donations are taken by Vodafone for administration. None of the money goes to Bournemouth Borough Council.
Q: Who is behind this initiative?
A: We (Bournemouth Borough Council) are working with Dorset Police, CRi and many other voluntary organisations to launch and operate this campaign.
Q: But surely there’s no harm in giving a few pence?
A: Begging is a criminal offence, it is also really dangerous too – the average life span for someone who is sleeping rough is only 47 years (CRISIS). Giving a few pence helps people to stay ‘on the streets’ and does not encourage them to take the help that is offered by the outreach workers from CRi
Q: Surely those who beg do so because they have no means to pay for food or a train ticket home?
A: There is no need to beg for food in Bournemouth. There are lots of places where people can get a meal or a food parcel if they are willing to come inside. CRi also run a service that helps homeless people from other areas to return home by arranging their journey and paying travel costs.
Q: Other campaigns have emphasised the link between begging and drugs. Why is there no mention of drugs in this campaign?
A: Because we do not want to demonise the people we are trying to help. People become homeless, or beg for a number of reasons – it would not be fair if we assumed that all of them were the same and had the same needs and problems.
Q: How long will the campaign run?
A: Until the end of 2014 and hopefully beyond.
Q: How will you know if the campaign has been a success?
A: We will be able to see whether the number of people begging in Bournemouth during and after the campaign is less than the number of people begging before the campaign launched.The donations generated by the JustGiving text campaign will also be a great indicator of just how successful our posters and media have been in changing the way Bournemouth residents help homeless people.
THE PROBLEM - Our Feedback
Bournemouth's homeless testify to the lack of any real assistance for them on a daily basis - this campaign translates in reality to Bournemouth Council officials harassing and continually rounding up the visibly homeless - preventing them from loitering or 'begging'
About Homelessness and the Begging Awareness Campaign
Q: Why is this campaign necessary?
A: Not many people know that active street begging is against the law and that many beggars are not actually homeless. We want to promote a better way of helping genuine homeless people by encouraging members of the public to donate directly to a registered charity by texting KIND64 £1 to 70070 instead of giving cash to people begging.
Q: Where exactly will the money that is raised go?
A: Donations go to ‘CRi’ a charity that works directly with homeless people in Bournemouth. They provide a day centre service where people who have been sleeping rough can get help and support with things like medical attention and housing advice.
Q: Does all of the money go to charity or does the council take a percentage?A: 100% of text donations and 95% of online donations go to CRi. Because we have used Just Giving a small percentage of the online donations are taken by Vodafone for administration. None of the money goes to Bournemouth Borough Council.
Q: Who is behind this initiative?
A: We (Bournemouth Borough Council) are working with Dorset Police, CRi and many other voluntary organisations to launch and operate this campaign.
Q: But surely there’s no harm in giving a few pence?
A: Begging is a criminal offence, it is also really dangerous too – the average life span for someone who is sleeping rough is only 47 years (CRISIS). Giving a few pence helps people to stay ‘on the streets’ and does not encourage them to take the help that is offered by the outreach workers from CRi
Q: Surely those who beg do so because they have no means to pay for food or a train ticket home?
A: There is no need to beg for food in Bournemouth. There are lots of places where people can get a meal or a food parcel if they are willing to come inside. CRi also run a service that helps homeless people from other areas to return home by arranging their journey and paying travel costs.
Q: Other campaigns have emphasised the link between begging and drugs. Why is there no mention of drugs in this campaign?
A: Because we do not want to demonise the people we are trying to help. People become homeless, or beg for a number of reasons – it would not be fair if we assumed that all of them were the same and had the same needs and problems.
Q: How long will the campaign run?
A: Until the end of 2014 and hopefully beyond.
Q: How will you know if the campaign has been a success?
A: We will be able to see whether the number of people begging in Bournemouth during and after the campaign is less than the number of people begging before the campaign launched.The donations generated by the JustGiving text campaign will also be a great indicator of just how successful our posters and media have been in changing the way Bournemouth residents help homeless people.
THE PROBLEM - Our Feedback
Bournemouth's homeless testify to the lack of any real assistance for them on a daily basis - this campaign translates in reality to Bournemouth Council officials harassing and continually rounding up the visibly homeless - preventing them from loitering or 'begging'
Many of the homeless in Bournemouth don't actively beg - they prefer instead to trade and are very clear on that and commit to it with pride; they sell the Big Issue or they trade street goods or arts.
One of the problems that the Article fails to recognise is that Bournemouth Council apply a clever strategy to disenfranchise many homeless rough sleepers - they categorise them as having 'no local ties' rendering them invisible to homeless services or progressive assistance - they are seen as a nuisance and asked to move on, or to 'return'. However, many rough sleepers are former foster care children who's roots have never been secure. I have seen generations of care casualties homeless in Bournemouth - and siblings on the streets such as Hayden and Ron and Jo and Dean. Sean is also a third generation foster child, who's sister is homeless in London, and Stuart's child hood was experienced as a carer to his disabled Mother.
The contributing factors are not always tidy - but sleeping rough should qualify you for a basic level of care. In Hayden's words 'I can and often do shower on the beach, what use is that?' He would like to see deposit schemes offered to all homeless - without the stipulation of local ties. We often brag about Britain being a free Country - yet the homeless are denied their freedom's to choose where to settle. For the likes of Hayden and his brother - there is nowhere in the UK that they can call home or receive any basic care. Every town should offer the facility to get off the streets at night - it is not what the homeless desire in the long run, but it provides a basic human need of shelter in the interim period, before they set their lives back on track.
How many street deaths are we to hear of before we recognise that rough street sleeping is unacceptably dangerous to the point of not being an acceptable option - local ties or no local ties - we can and must do better.
I say leave the public to decide where to give their money on an individual case by case and human level. Also don't offer up the CRi as a one fits all solution when it fails to provide universal overnight shelter to all rough sleepers who find themselves locally destitute. If your measure of success is to see the homeless disappear - you have a very poor standard of care and provision
One of the problems that the Article fails to recognise is that Bournemouth Council apply a clever strategy to disenfranchise many homeless rough sleepers - they categorise them as having 'no local ties' rendering them invisible to homeless services or progressive assistance - they are seen as a nuisance and asked to move on, or to 'return'. However, many rough sleepers are former foster care children who's roots have never been secure. I have seen generations of care casualties homeless in Bournemouth - and siblings on the streets such as Hayden and Ron and Jo and Dean. Sean is also a third generation foster child, who's sister is homeless in London, and Stuart's child hood was experienced as a carer to his disabled Mother.
The contributing factors are not always tidy - but sleeping rough should qualify you for a basic level of care. In Hayden's words 'I can and often do shower on the beach, what use is that?' He would like to see deposit schemes offered to all homeless - without the stipulation of local ties. We often brag about Britain being a free Country - yet the homeless are denied their freedom's to choose where to settle. For the likes of Hayden and his brother - there is nowhere in the UK that they can call home or receive any basic care. Every town should offer the facility to get off the streets at night - it is not what the homeless desire in the long run, but it provides a basic human need of shelter in the interim period, before they set their lives back on track.
How many street deaths are we to hear of before we recognise that rough street sleeping is unacceptably dangerous to the point of not being an acceptable option - local ties or no local ties - we can and must do better.
I say leave the public to decide where to give their money on an individual case by case and human level. Also don't offer up the CRi as a one fits all solution when it fails to provide universal overnight shelter to all rough sleepers who find themselves locally destitute. If your measure of success is to see the homeless disappear - you have a very poor standard of care and provision
No comments:
Post a Comment