Shelter reports that two people died homeless every day in 2021. 

Here at Simon on the Streets, we don’t always talk about the impact this can have on us as a team when we experience this directly. The death of someone we’ve supported hits hard, and is a distressing experience that takes some time to process. However, it’s a topic that can’t be ignored. 

As the statistics surrounding homelessness continue to devastate, we’re reflecting on how we come together to deal with loss, and with the trauma we see on a daily basis, both as individuals and as a team. And more importantly, to pay tribute to just some of the people we’ve helped who are no longer with us.

Vicarious trauma

“I questioned myself, had I done enough?” - Anna, one of our outreach workers, reflecting on the death of Patrick (not real name), who she supported.

Sometimes, the impacts of death amongst our clients and us are very far-reaching, and affect us not just in the short term, but in the longer term too. As such, people in our team often experience vicarious trauma, a trauma affecting those who have had indirect exposure to a traumatic event. 

Due to the nature of our work at Simon on the Streets, it’s something our team is also familiar with. When someone we support passes away, it impacts our team in so many ways. We never forget them. Every person we meet, no matter the longevity of our support and relationship with them, means something and is deserving of remembrance.

Coming together 

At Simon on the Streets, we’re very lucky to have not just a team, but a CEO that understands the value of holistic support. Something which is immensely important when supporting others who have very often experienced traumatic events themselves.

Whilst we receive full and thorough training to help reduce the negative impact on our emotional and mental health, there are other support systems and coping mechanisms in place too. 

The importance of self observation

People respond to trauma and loss differently. No one person's reaction is the same. This means if someone is struggling, it can be tricky to spot, either by themselves or by those around them. The temptation to just ‘get on with things’ is hard to resist, and given the challenges that those we support are facing, it’s easy to write our own feelings off as being nothing in comparison. 

That’s why we come together regularly as a team. We share stories and experiences, and we seek one another’s advice. In addition, we’re always on the lookout for signals that one of our team isn’t OK and needs support. Signs such as: 

• Feelings of anxiety, or sadness, irritability or anger, becoming distracted easily and frequently, feeling unsafe.
• Becoming more isolated and other changing behaviours. For example not getting enough sleep, or an ongoing difficulty to manage the work life balance. 
• Feeling physically unwell on a regular basis. 

• A decreased sense of purpose. 

Taking care of our wellbeing 

Our outreach work is at the centre of everything we do at Simon on the Streets, and underpins our mission to help people break the cycle of homelessness. 

Although it’s a role that’s incredibly rewarding, every single day we support people who have experienced abuse, trauma, or who have health issues. To watch others go through tough times, mental health issues or battle addiction can be immensely difficult.

It’s why we take breaks when we can, and why we do our best to practise self-care. We want the people we support to get the very best from us, and as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.  

Seeking support from others

Teamwork is everything when it comes to outreach. It’s very important for any work in the charity sector full stop. We wouldn’t be able to continue the work we do if we didn’t have such a strong, supportive network of people surrounding us. And this is especially true when we’re dealing with loss. 

As a charity, we’ve never shied away from talking about the difficult issues. And we never will. The people we support matter, and every single donation, every single event attended, and every single act of volunteering can help us to make a difference. 

Ultimately, when you support us here at Simon on the Streets, it’s really no exaggeration to say that you’re helping us to make a difference between life and death. Take a look at how you can get involved, and don’t forget to follow us across our social channels to hear more about the work we do.