Introducing our winter appeal
Sleeping rough in winter can kill. But one night of safety can change someone’s life and take them off the streets for good. That’s why we’ve launched our new campaign, Last Night on the Streets. It aims to highlight the dangers of rough sleeping, and the hard work that our outreach teams do to get people off the streets and into safety. Crucially, it will help us to raise the vital funds we need to meet growing demands for support – with the need for our help expected to rise as the cost of living crisis deepens. We want our campaign to reach as many people as possible, so that we can gain more wonderful supporters like you, who can help us through this busy time, and bring us closer to our goal of ending homelessness in England for good. A glimpse of life on the streets As part of the winter appeal, we’ve created a TV advert that provides a glimpse into a person’s journey from the streets and into accommodation, showing you the harsh elements they endure night after night, and the hope that meeting our outreach team can give. The life expectancy of someone sleeping rough is just 45 for men, and 41 for women. Last year, our outreach teams supported over 5,000 people. In order to help as many people as possible, we need more supporters like you, who can make tonight someone’s last night on the streets. Learn more
The cost of living crisis: our clients’ views
Our work doesn’t stop at helping people into homes – we keep in touch and offer floating support to make sure that clients like Tracy and Dylan* have everything they need to manage independent or semi-independent living. But the cost of living crisis means that money’s tight. They share their views on how it’s affected them so far. “I’ve had to cut back on shopping to top up my electric” With support from St Mungo’s, former client Tracy has lived in her own flat for nearly a decade. She explains why the cost of living crisis is worrying her, and how being a member of Outside In, our client involvement group, helps her stay positive. “The cost of living is too expensive and I’m really struggling at the moment. I was diagnosed with throat cancer last year and had to have my voice box removed. I use an electric fan daily to help me breathe, and a nebulizer to take medicine. I also need to keep my medicine stored in the fridge – so it’s not easy for me to reduce my electric use. “I’ve had to cut back on shopping to make sure I have enough to top up my electric, and a few times I’ve had to ask utilities to help me out and then pay interest back. The cost of living payment from the government just isn’t enough.” “We need more awareness over who needs help. Right now, there is a lot of stigma over people needing grants or things like that. People think that others are lazy or don’t want to work, but this is far from the truth. Some people have poor health, and those who can work often do. “One positive that’s come out of this year is being a member of Outside In, St Mungo’s client representative group. I’ve made some amazing friends who I meet up with regularly. It’s been my lifeline throughout my cancer journey. I don’t know what I would have done without them – they’re like my family. I’d like to say a big thank you to St Mungo’s for being there.” “I’m happy to have my own place, but I’m feeling the squeeze” After spending some time in hospital, Dylan needed a stable place to recover his mental health. He stayed in one of our specialist services for three years, and now lives in his own flat. He shares how he manages on a small budget. “I’m happy to have my own place, but I’m feeling the squeeze. When you start living by yourself, there are a lot more expenses. St Mungo’s helped me set up my housing benefit claim and get a job with the council, but even with both, money is tight. “One of my biggest expenses is utilities – it adds up to over £200 a month, for a one bedroom flat. “Because I’m in recovery from a mental health intervention, it’s really important that I can have some normality in my life. Things like seeing friends, going to the gym or doing sports can make all the difference, but that’s not cheap either.” “Food is going up all the time too – the prices change every week. So I try to only buy things from the reduced section. I’m having to delay decorating my flat too – I’m getting things bit by bit. One of the staff from the service helped me to install some curtains recently, which was really helpful. “In order to do that regularly and have the life I want, I need a lot more income. But I really appreciate all the help and support I’ve had from St Mungo’s.” *Name changed at client’s request. How we work with clients struggling with the cost of living We’re doing all we can to support clients who are struggling with the cost of living, including: Offering clean clothing, bedding and toiletries to clients who have been rough sleeping Providing mobile phones so that we can keep in touch with clients and help them access online banking Supporting with benefit claims and cost of living payments Signposting to suitable financial support and grant schemes Running numeracy and literacy courses as part of our Recovery College Helping clients looking for work through one to one employment coaching Read more about what we do here. How we advocate for our clients Another way that we are supporting our clients is by making sure their voices and needs are heard by those in power. Since 2021, we have been a key member of the Kerslake Commission, an independent commission chaired by Lord Bob Kerslake, the former head of the civil service. The Commission aims to understand what we have learnt from the emergency response to rough sleeping during the pandemic, and make recommendations on how we can take those learnings forward to end rough sleeping for good. A new progress report published by the Commission in September shows that more than 25% of recommendations have been enacted by stakeholders including national and local government so far. Actions include a three year funding commitment for the homeless sector, as well as: The creation of the 2022 Health and Care Act, which will make it easier for organisations to deliver joined-up care to patients experiencing homelessness. When clients with mental and physical health needs get the right support, it makes it much easier for them to support themselves. Plans for a Renters Reform Bill, which tackles the injustice of unfit homes and gives renters more protection. This includes the scrapping of Section 21 or “no fault” evictions, which enable landlords to evict tenants with two months notice, without reason. Of course, as the cost of living crisis deepens, more reforms are needed if we are to continue meaningful progress on ending rough sleeping. We will continue our work with the Kerslake Commission and key policy makers to promote the best outcomes for our clients. To find out more about the Kerslake Commission, and read their latest update, visit the Commission on Rough
A day in the life of a St Mungo’s outreach worker
James is a St Mungo’s outreach worker in our Bristol team. He’s out morning, day and night to find people sleeping rough and connect them with the services they need. “It’s hard to describe a typical outreach shift – every day is different! At the beginning, I come into work and plan my time, deciding where I’m going to go and which clients I need to see. I’ll also check for referrals from StreetLink, which are really useful when it comes to finding new people. Then I head out into Bristol – usually on foot. “When I meet someone new, the number one thing is to try and have a chat and build a rapport with them. You can’t dive in and do an assessment if they don’t feel comfortable, because they’re not going to want to share stuff with you. “Once I’ve introduced myself, I’ll try and get as much information as I can about their situation. Sometimes I do the assessment on the street, or I’ll invite them to a café or somewhere more private. “But it’s not just about getting people into accommodation. A lot of what we do is planting the seeds – encouraging people to start thinking about ways forward.” James, St Mungo’s Outreach Worker “In many cases, the information I get can be used to make a referral to the Homeless Prevention Team at the council. I can also add them to the Housing Register so that Housing Advisors have the information they need to contact and support them. “Whilst all this is going on, there’s lots of other ways that I might be able to help a client. I can give them a mobile phone so that they can be easily contacted, or signpost them to places to get food, drink and a wash. I might help them to make a benefit claim, or walk them to the homeless health clinic. Sometimes, we even have doctors and nurses joining us on shift to offer treatment and advice. “If all goes to plan, they’ll get an offer of accommodation, and I’ll help them to get there and move in. I can also refer them to any other services and support they might need. “There are a lot of barriers that stop people from accepting our help – such as poor mental health, or addiction. For instance, I recently worked with Alex*, a young man in his twenties, who was experiencing paranoia and thought he was being stalked. “When I first met him and offered help, he said he was fine. But over the course of a year, I managed to build a relationship with him, and gain his trust. “Eventually, he agreed to let me drive him home. What started with a “Hello, I don’t want any help”, turned into us sitting round the table with his family, having a cup of tea, and giving them all a hug. It was an incredibly rewarding experience, and a huge relief for them. “I love my job – it’s a real privilege. Everyone is so driven, knowledgeable and supportive, and we have a wealth of experience to draw on within our team. Together, I feel like there’s no situation we couldn’t handle.” *This name has been changed to protect the client’s privacy Outreach at Christmas “Christmas is a very, very lonely time if you are living on the street. You’re sitting there with all of your memories of Christmas’ past, and you are totally on your own. “We try to be there for people, and make them feel included. We might help people to get bus or train tickets, so that they can reconnect with family, or hand out gifts that have been donated. Some of us head over to The Trinity Centre, where some clients spend Christmas, and say hello.” “It’s that human thing of being there for someone.” Outreach at Christmas We often have opportunities for people to volunteer with our outreach team. You can support us either as a: First Response volunteer, helping busy outreach teams to locate people quickly, so that they have a more productive shift Outreach volunteer, working with experienced outreach staff to locate and speak to people sleeping rough, and help them access the services they need For more information and to view our latest roles, click here.
It’s time for you to Take The Lead!
This August, walk a marathon with your favourite four legged friend and raise vital funds to help us support more people experiencing homelessness. You can take on this paw-some challenge anywhere, in your own time and at your own pace. Break the 26.2 miles into a short walk every day, or opt for a longer walk every week – you could even take the opportunity to visit somewhere new. It’s your challenge, so you decide when and where you clock up the miles. You’ll get a St Mungo’s lead and T-shirt when you register, plus a funky dog bandana if you raise over £50. Register for free and get your bandana today.
Putting Down Roots heads to Chelsea
For the past 22 years, Putting Down Roots has helped hundreds of people to build their confidence through gardening. At regular sessions in Bristol, Leicester and London, clients can learn the practical skills needed to grow a wide selection of plants, including flowers, fruit and vegetables. This May, the team had the chance to put those skills to use for an exciting new project – the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Funded by Project Giving Back, and designed by long term partner, Cityscapes, creating the St Mungo’s Putting Down Roots Garden was a real team effort. It took months of preparation to prepare, with clients busy growing on and looking after over 2,000 plants, and helping move them to the show. The end result was outstanding, with the garden attracting thousands of visitors throughout the week. It even scooped one of ten Silver medals from the Royal Horticultural Society. We couldn’t be prouder of everything our Putting Down Roots team have achieved.
How can we combat the cost of living crisis?
We’ve all been feeling the pinch lately as the cost of living increases. Energy bills have risen by as much as 54%, whilst inflation is at a record breaking 30 year high, and still going up. We know this is going to have a huge impact on all of us, especially our clients. Many of the people we work with rely on benefits, meaning they’ll also be affected by changes to Universal Credit payments and more benefit sanctions. For those living independently, keeping on top of rent, utility bills, tax and other expenses could be overwhelming without the right support. That’s why St Mungo’s is working hard to assist clients with things like accessing benefits, applying for grants to reduce bills, and connecting with food banks, plus much more. In short, we’re doing everything we can to prevent anyone from returning to the streets. Clare is the Advice Services Manager on our Welfare Rights team, who specialise in supporting clients with benefits. She explains how they’ve been helping: What does your role at St Mungo’s involve? “I manage our Welfare Rights team, which is made up of specialists who are here to help anyone with a question about their welfare rights. We run an email advice line which clients, staff and volunteers can use to get in touch, and a one to one service for those who need extra help. We also work closely with the Rents team to try to resolve any problems relating to rent arrears (when someone falls behind on their rent payments) – the list goes on!” How do you think the cost of living crisis is going to impact St Mungo’s clients? “People living in services like Real Lettings, where they have a tenancy with bills and council tax – I think they are going to really feel the impact. I recently heard of a young client who is struggling with his tenancy. He’s a care leaver and, because of his age, he receives around £250 a month in Universal Credit. Now, he’s facing a gas bill of about £150 – more than half his monthly income. It’s just not sustainable.”
How giving back led to a new career for Nizar
Nizar became homeless after the death of his friend, who owned the house he lived in. After St Mungo’s Outreach team helped Nizar off the streets and into stable accommodation, he decided to give back by becoming a volunteer. Fast forward two and a half years, and Nizar has used his volunteering experience to secure a job working as a Care Assistant at one of St Mungo’s care homes for the elderly. He shares his success story. Starting over “I became homeless after my friend passed away. We’d lived together for many years in the house she owned, but when she died, I lost everything. I tried to fight to keep my home and it even went to court, but eventually, I had to leave. I was so stressed out that I even lost my job. I had no idea what to do, because I’d never had an experience like this before. I spent a few nights sleeping on night buses and benches – it was horrible. Luckily, it wasn’t long before I met St Mungo’s Outreach team. They approached me whilst I was sleeping rough in Trafalgar Square, and found me a bed for the night. From then on, St Mungo’s have had my back. They provided me with a safe place to stay and helped me get a place of my own through the Housing First scheme. It’s given me a firm foundation to start getting back on track.”
