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| Sentamu calls for action to help rough sleepers in York | Sentamu calls for action to help rough sleepers in York |
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| This initiative is a creative, whole-community way of responding to the problem of rough sleeping, and it builds on the findings and principles of the York Fairness Commission which presented its report to the City of York council last year. One of the fairness principles we identified was the supporting and empowering of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. In the Foreword to our Report I said: | This initiative is a creative, whole-community way of responding to the problem of rough sleeping, and it builds on the findings and principles of the York Fairness Commission which presented its report to the City of York council last year. One of the fairness principles we identified was the supporting and empowering of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. In the Foreword to our Report I said: |
| You can judge how healthy a society is by how it treats the most vulnerable people; and a more equal society is also proven to be a happier society. If we want to see York prosper and flourish we must look to reduce the societal divide that currently exists. It is our duty and our responsibility. | You can judge how healthy a society is by how it treats the most vulnerable people; and a more equal society is also proven to be a happier society. If we want to see York prosper and flourish we must look to reduce the societal divide that currently exists. It is our duty and our responsibility. |
People without homes, who are sleeping rough on our streets, are amongst the most vulnerable people in our world and our beautiful city, and it should not be seen as an acceptable situation for anyone. | People without homes, who are sleeping rough on our streets, are amongst the most vulnerable people in our world and our beautiful city, and it should not be seen as an acceptable situation for anyone. |
| Those suffering from mental health or addiction problems make up a large proportion of those living on our streets. However, the financial crisis of the past few years has also had a devastating effect on many people, with individuals and families finding themselves without employment, losing their homes and falling into a frighteningly swift downward spiral into homelessness and despair. It is well known that rough sleeping is harmful and risky to individuals, often resulting in a deterioration of mental and physical health and well-being. Living on the streets is not only hazardous to health and safety, it also leads to a dislocation from society creating real difficulties for re-establishing oneself in the everyday world. I remember vividly that when I camped in a tent in York Minster for eight days, for a peace vigil in 2006, I met two people who were sleeping rough. I discovered that they had been homeless for about four years. Conversation was difficult and it took a long time for them to be re-established into their communities. There was a shared language. One was a university graduate. One was well spoken, one was monosyllabic. Homelessness can affect anyone. Many of those who have found themselves without a home for some time have described how they have begun to lose the practice of social interaction – conversation skills become rusty, shared experience and common understanding fade. Some people become quite alienated from society, almost existing in a parallel space while the rest of us pass by. Like trains going from north to south, and south to north, passing each other by. This is far from being a new situation. Nearly 30 years ago I was involved in the implementation of the Church of England's Faith in the City report on poverty and deprivation. We stated then: | Those suffering from mental health or addiction problems make up a large proportion of those living on our streets. However, the financial crisis of the past few years has also had a devastating effect on many people, with individuals and families finding themselves without employment, losing their homes and falling into a frighteningly swift downward spiral into homelessness and despair. It is well known that rough sleeping is harmful and risky to individuals, often resulting in a deterioration of mental and physical health and well-being. Living on the streets is not only hazardous to health and safety, it also leads to a dislocation from society creating real difficulties for re-establishing oneself in the everyday world. I remember vividly that when I camped in a tent in York Minster for eight days, for a peace vigil in 2006, I met two people who were sleeping rough. I discovered that they had been homeless for about four years. Conversation was difficult and it took a long time for them to be re-established into their communities. There was a shared language. One was a university graduate. One was well spoken, one was monosyllabic. Homelessness can affect anyone. Many of those who have found themselves without a home for some time have described how they have begun to lose the practice of social interaction – conversation skills become rusty, shared experience and common understanding fade. Some people become quite alienated from society, almost existing in a parallel space while the rest of us pass by. Like trains going from north to south, and south to north, passing each other by. This is far from being a new situation. Nearly 30 years ago I was involved in the implementation of the Church of England's Faith in the City report on poverty and deprivation. We stated then: |
| We believe that a home is more than bricks and mortar, more than a roof over one's head. Decent housing certainly means a place that is dry, warm and in reasonable repair. It also means security, privacy, sufficient space; a place where people can grow, make choices, become more whole people. | We believe that a home is more than bricks and mortar, more than a roof over one's head. Decent housing certainly means a place that is dry, warm and in reasonable repair. It also means security, privacy, sufficient space; a place where people can grow, make choices, become more whole people. |
The problem of homelessness has become significantly more severe since then and it is a problem not only for those without homes, but for the whole of our society and our individual communities. Why is that? Because with homelessness also comes the problem of hopelessness, especially for young people who are a growing proportion of those without a secure home. As President of YMCA England I see this often when I visit them. | The problem of homelessness has become significantly more severe since then and it is a problem not only for those without homes, but for the whole of our society and our individual communities. Why is that? Because with homelessness also comes the problem of hopelessness, especially for young people who are a growing proportion of those without a secure home. As President of YMCA England I see this often when I visit them. |
| Homelessness is the tangible reality of the despair they feel about their present and their future; hopelessness about getting a job, hopelessness about family breakdown, hopelessness about social fragmentation - being cut adrift from family friends and neighbours. The challenge of 'No Second Night Out' is to provide better choices for people, and appropriate to their individual needs, so that people choose to take up the offers of support that are made. The idea behind it is not just to take people off the streets, to 'sweep them out of sight'. We are not doing this so the police do not have to deal with them. Rather the idea is to move quickly to find a place of safety for those without a home and, where possible to reconnect them to their own community. In this way those helpful links which have been broken may be rebuilt and restored, before the dislocation becomes too great. Our role is to be the connectors with the homeless, the communities they come from, and the agencies who can offer help. This is a whole community experience where all can become connectors. Homelessness is a problem which forces us to reconsider the values on which we are building our society. It calls for a whole new social vision, a rediscovery of the well-springs of solidarity, and that is why I believe that 'No Second Night Out' is an excellent programme of action. It is a scheme which recognises that all of us, as members of a caring community and a beautiful city, can play a part in making a difference. How do we do this? | Homelessness is the tangible reality of the despair they feel about their present and their future; hopelessness about getting a job, hopelessness about family breakdown, hopelessness about social fragmentation - being cut adrift from family friends and neighbours. The challenge of 'No Second Night Out' is to provide better choices for people, and appropriate to their individual needs, so that people choose to take up the offers of support that are made. The idea behind it is not just to take people off the streets, to 'sweep them out of sight'. We are not doing this so the police do not have to deal with them. Rather the idea is to move quickly to find a place of safety for those without a home and, where possible to reconnect them to their own community. In this way those helpful links which have been broken may be rebuilt and restored, before the dislocation becomes too great. Our role is to be the connectors with the homeless, the communities they come from, and the agencies who can offer help. This is a whole community experience where all can become connectors. Homelessness is a problem which forces us to reconsider the values on which we are building our society. It calls for a whole new social vision, a rediscovery of the well-springs of solidarity, and that is why I believe that 'No Second Night Out' is an excellent programme of action. It is a scheme which recognises that all of us, as members of a caring community and a beautiful city, can play a part in making a difference. How do we do this? |
| As I said, one of the dangers for those living on the streets is that they become separated from society. 'No Second Night Out' helps us to look at those who may be sleeping rough in a new way; to see them as individuals whom we can help. It encourages us to take responsibility for one another in a number of ways. It may simply be by letting the organisation know if you see someone sleeping rough; they will then follow this up. | As I said, one of the dangers for those living on the streets is that they become separated from society. 'No Second Night Out' helps us to look at those who may be sleeping rough in a new way; to see them as individuals whom we can help. It encourages us to take responsibility for one another in a number of ways. It may simply be by letting the organisation know if you see someone sleeping rough; they will then follow this up. |
| Or, if you wish to become more involved, there are ways of volunteering with the programme. Are we our brothers keepers? Yes, we are! We need to look out for one another if we are to build a generous healthy city. We must go beyond the 'good Samaritan'. We have just been celebrating Christmas, enjoying and sharing hospitality with one another as we remember the story of the greatest person ever to be offered temporary accommodation – Jesus Christ who was born in a stable when there was nowhere for his parents to stay. May we all be ready to look at our brothers and sisters on the streets as equally in need of our care and hospitality in this great City of York. Let us embrace 'No Second Night Out' and make a difference here. Let us all join hands – and do this together. | Or, if you wish to become more involved, there are ways of volunteering with the programme. Are we our brothers keepers? Yes, we are! We need to look out for one another if we are to build a generous healthy city. We must go beyond the 'good Samaritan'. We have just been celebrating Christmas, enjoying and sharing hospitality with one another as we remember the story of the greatest person ever to be offered temporary accommodation – Jesus Christ who was born in a stable when there was nowhere for his parents to stay. May we all be ready to look at our brothers and sisters on the streets as equally in need of our care and hospitality in this great City of York. Let us embrace 'No Second Night Out' and make a difference here. Let us all join hands – and do this together. |
| The Northerner reported last month on the launch of 'No Second Night Out' in Newcastle. Find out more about how you can help here. | The Northerner reported last month on the launch of 'No Second Night Out' in Newcastle. Find out more about how you can help here. |
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