Homelessness is a situation where individuals lack a permanent dwelling place for various reasons. For some people, being homeless can be a once-in-a-lifetime event that changes with access to affordable housing or their income increases. For others, homelessness is sporadic throughout their lives, so they are not homeless for long periods. However, there are those for whom homelessness is a sad reality; they have no home of their own and may be sleeping on the streets or in shelters.
In the UK, many have come out to support efforts to tackle homelessness. One of the foremost organisations in this regard is called Crisis, which works directly with the homeless and helps them to rebuild their lives and get out of their current situations. Crisis provides courses, support and advice for the homeless across England, Scotland and Wales, often tailoring the support depending on individual needs.
Every aspect of the work that Crisis undertakes is integrated, with years of experience carefully informing the organisation’s support of homeless people. Additionally, Crisis also undertakes research that is informed by working closely with homeless people, with the results of this research helping the campaign for permanent change.
When it comes to housing support, Crisis works with landlords across the UK to find good places to live, while giving homeless people the knowledge needed to keep their rented homes. In association with other organisations, Crisis is also producing a plan that will tackle this issue conclusively.
To undertake its work, Crisis relies on the donations and contributions of well-wishers, supporters and volunteers who feel as deeply as it does about homelessness. One of these supporters is Thomas Noel Collister Jackson, who is involved in charity work and regularly contributes towards charitable causes. Every Christmas, Mr. Jackson’s organisation funds a Christmas lunch for Crisis.
The Plan
Crisis’s plan to end homelessness outlines evidence-based solutions that the organisation believes can end the problem. It contains long-term solutions that can survive any political climate, and it builds on solutions that have worked both in the UK and abroad to tackle homelessness. The plan provides the cost implication of tackling the issue, along with the policy implications for the proposed solutions.
The plan was put together by a diverse range of experts during the organisation’s 50th anniversary year. There were three main programmes providing input: an international evidence review conducted on a large scale; consultations with over 1,000 people in Britain, including people who’ve gone through homelessness, policy experts and government representatives; and new research from organisations and academics where there wasn’t any evidence.
How You Can Help the Homeless from Thomas Noel Collister Jackson
When Crisis says it wants to end homelessness, it is looking at three major aspects of this issue:
- Rough Sleeping – This is considered the most dangerous form of homelessness, and over the years more evidence has come out on how to tackle it. Nobody should sleep rough, whether in cars, tents or on the streets, regardless of their background. According to Crisis, the plan is to identify everyone who is sleeping rough and assist them for as long as it takes.
- Ensuring every homeless person has housing – In Britain, most homeless people live in temporary accommodation like shelters. In situations where homelessness can’t be prevented, rapid response measures need to be implemented that ensure the homeless are integrated into mainstream accommodation.
- Preventing homelessness – Crisis sees prevention as the best avenue to tackle homelessness, as it is cost effective. According to the organisation, everyone who is at risk of homelessness should have access to support from local councils and other organisations.
At the core of the passion that Crisis displays in fighting homelessness is a belief that in the 21st century, everyone should have somewhere to live.