As temperatures plummeted below zero in December, a new initiative to help rough sleepers and the single homeless (sofa surfers) in Teignbridge swung in to action. Providing a hot meal, shower as well as new cloths and sleepingbags; Teignbridge District Council’s housing team were on standby to offer bed and breakfast accommodation on very cold nights.
There are about 6 people in Teignbridge that we know of that are all-year rough sleepers, there are a larger number of people who are ‘sofa surfers’ they have no fixed abode, and move around staying with family or friends, sometimes sleeping rough. Engadging with rough sleepers is difficult, we want them to 'come in from the cold', we certainly made progress, but couldn't persuade any to take up the council's offer of accomodation.
I have to say, I’ve been taken aback and humbled by the number of people volunteering and making donations to the project. We will be operating again should temperates fall again.
Our next project is to create 'Starter Packs' that the council's housing team can give out.
Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ ? Kropotkin’s ‘Mutual Aid ‘ I like to think.
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