COVID -19 is a global pandemic which, according to the World Health Organisation, affects vulnerable people disproportionately. This group includes people who are homeless or have complex health needs.
People experiencing homelessness are more likely than most to have an issue with their health; the average age of death is 45 for a man, and for a woman just 43, and poor health is at the root of this problem.
Over 4,000 people sleep on the streets of England on any one night. Rough sleeping and homelessness have grown over the last decade. It is harmful and dangerous and ruins lives.
Yet, ironically, in the past year before this pandemic, we were, with our Local Authorities, partners and Government, making real inroads in reducing rough sleeping through innovative initiatives and co-ordinated effort.
As one of the largest providers of homelessness services in the County, we are doing everything we can to keep clients safe in Luton and Central Bedfordshire.
With the onset of Covid-19 our focus is to ensure that no one is left rough sleeping during these times of a global pandemic, and that they are provided with that primary care that we all need something to eat, clothing to wear and access to hygiene. Given the numbers of people involved this is a complex task.
To that end we provide clothing on request and advice and guidance through arranged telephone conversations or socially distanced conversations. We prepare cooked meals at lunchtime and supplement these with food packs that provide for breakfast and something to eat in the evening. The food is delivered to the hotel accommodation which has been sourced by Luton Council in which our rough sleepers are temporarily housed. There they can follow government guidelines on self-isolation and social distancing. Alternative arrangements are in place in Central Bedfordshire. We are working with our partners, local authorities and other services to ensure that no one is left rough sleeping during these times of a global pandemic.
Currently, anyone worried about someone rough sleeping is urged to contact Street Link (www.streetlink.org.uk ) who will allow our teams to locate anyone in need of support.
Over 4,000 people sleep on the streets of England on any one night. Rough sleeping and homelessness have grown over the last decade. It is harmful and dangerous and ruins lives.
- We need your financial support to provide a lifeline for those struggling to survive
- Contact the national referral service StreetLink online, via the app or by phone if you are concerned about someone sleeping rough
- Further information can be found on our website www.noahenterprise.org
* Charities pay a small fee for our service. Find out how much it is and what we do for it.
