A NEW project funded by public donations could help bring an end to rough sleeping in Oxfordshire. During the pandemic, councils and voluntary organisations in Oxfordshire were moved to find temporary accommodation for over 200 people who were sleeping rough. These people were safer, and were then able to get help with rebuilding their lives. The Oxfordshire Homeless Movement which co-ordinates efforts to help the homeless thinks they could end homelessness in Oxfordshire as a result of this work, which relies on a housing first approach . But due to the uncertainty over how long cash will last to help rough sleepers there is a risk some will return to the streets.
Help the Homeless
A group of people with lived experience of homelessness meet each month to help others experiencing rough sleeping GIVING people who have a lived experience of homelessness voice in local decision-making is the new year s resolution of a group working in Oxford. The Oxfordshire Homeless Movement, a network of organisations trying to end street sleeping, is running its third Christmas appeal, with backing from the Oxford Mail. While a lot of the cash raised will go towards frontline services to help the homeless, one of the projects it will also help is something called the Lived Experience Advisory Forum.
A homeless man in Oxford HOMELESS people from outside the UK will not be deported if found sleeping on the streets of Oxford, the city council has pledged. The council, which is responsible for housing the homeless in the city, stated it would not co-operate with a new law, introduced on December 1, which means the Home Office has the power to deport foreign nationals for sleeping on the street even for just one night. This includes people legally living in the UK, who could see their permission to stay refused or cancelled. Mike Rowley, cabinet member for affordable housing and housing the homeless, said: “The change to immigration rules leaves people liable to be deported if they sleep rough for just one night. This is not only bad policy because it puts people at risk if they’ve been subject to violence, illegally evicted or lost their job because of the pandemic – it’s also disgusting and immoral.
GROUPS working to tackle homelessness are trying to make sure winter support and Christmas dinners are still available despite the pandemic. During the winter, Oxford City Council usually activates its severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) to get rough sleepers into temporary shelter. And at the same time, charities usually offer extra food for rough sleepers or company for the lonely. But the pandemic has made this more difficult in 2020. The Oxfordshire Homeless Movement is co-ordinating efforts between these groups to tackle rough sleeping while navigating the difficulties of the coronavirus. The movement is also appealing for public help to continue its work.