It’s 2019. Practically everyone is glued to a smart phone, enjoys an annual overseas holiday and tucks into a hot dinner each night. We’re living in a throwaway culture, with fast-fashion at our fingertips, and buying products we can toss to the bottom of a drawer after one use if they don’t quite fit our expectations. Most of us are familiar with enjoying a warm cuppa while watching our favourite TV shows, and have never had to worry about when we’ll get our next meal, shower, or whether we’ll be safe while we sleep. The same can’t be said for the 9,100 people sleeping rough every night in England (Crisis).
Homelessness can be a touchy subject, and many people have the wrong idea about homeless people. Some show empathy by donating a pound or two, and may even buy an extra coffee to donate to someone perched in a doorway. Others will turn their noses up as they walk by, regarding them as second-class citizens, or feel frightened and speed up. But the truth is, anyone could become homeless – the streets are not reserved for those who ‘can’t be bothered’ to get a job, or who chose drug-taking over sitting their GCSEs.
It almost seems impossible that one day we could wake up with a family, home and career, then a few months later, after a string of unfortunate events, be left to fend for ourselves, jumping from sofa to sofa, or street to street – but, it happens. Rising accommodation costs, lowincome jobs, family breakdowns and sudden life-changing events – as well as just plain bad luck – can result in someone getting kicked out of their home, with no choice but to head to the streets. And once someone ends up on the streets, it’s tough to turn things around. Those who sleep rough for a prolonged period of time are likely to develop physical and mental health issues and become more susceptible to substance misuse and crime. Pair this with the stress and trauma of not having a permanent address, and it makes getting the correct support and guidance to get off the streets incredibly hard. There are organisations, such as Crisis (crisis.org.uk), working tirelessly to eradicate homelessness once and for all, but until this is achieved, do we just sit back and watch?
The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter (IWNS) works closely with homeless people, referred to as ‘guests’, to help them overcome the daily issues they face, with the long-term goal of helping them obtain permanent accommodation. Hot showers, fresh meals and comfortable beds are provided, as well as toiletries, clothing and space to read, play games and watch movies. Aside from creature comforts, the most important thing the shelter offers is safety. Doors open to guests from 7pm every evening to 8.30am the next morning, seven days a week, and the shelter is open for a 22-week period, between October 2018 and March 2019; this is the shelter’s eighth year running.