Breaking the cycle of homelessness is a big challenge for anyone to face alone. In many cases, our clients might not be aware of resources available, or they may just need that additional bit of encouragement and support in order to access them.
That’s why our outreach team and the work they do is central to everything we do here at Simon on the Streets. We believe that making strong connections with the people we work with, and letting them know that there’s a community that supports them, is key to long term change. Our outreach team are always out there, making a real difference to the people we work with, and tackling homelessness in West Yorkshire.
Let’s take a look at why outreach is such an important part of our work.
Building human connection
Going through homelessness can be a very dehumanising experience. Many will be ignored by passers by, lose contact with friends and family, and feel as though they’re invisible. It’s easy to see how people facing homelessness may have extremely low self-esteem and feelings of loneliness. At the end of the day, we’re a social species. Without human connection, we can soon start to feel pretty disconnected from the world around us.
Part of our outreach work is to help those we work with feel seen for the person they are, not their circumstances.
Before getting into any kind of practical solutions, our outreach workers really get to know the person. No agenda, attempts to take over the lives and ‘rescue’ them. We feel that these strong connections are the foundations of all long term solutions, and help the people we support take control of their own future progress.
‘Nick* got in contact with us over the last few weeks of 2021. He felt alone and in need of support. Nick described the Christmas period as "soul destroying". In the past, the loneliness Nick has felt at Christmas has triggered suicidal thoughts.
Our outreach worker supported Nick during the Christmas and New Year period. They met up to go for walks, have a chat and cup of tea and discuss mental health services he could access. They also made plans with Nick to build up a routine and fill his time over Christmas.
Now Christmas is over, with services fully open and Nick's routine back to normal, he's feeling much better.
Simply having a place to sleep doesn't solve homelessness. Emotional and practical support can support people on their journey to positive, sustainable change.’
Signposting to services
Many of the clients we work with have come from outside the Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield area. They’re away from everything and everyone they know, and not always aware of local services they can use. Even those who have been in the area for a long time might not be aware of the services available.
Homelessness can happen to anyone at any time, and it’s rare for someone to expect that it will happen to them. Often, the services that are there to help aren’t something someone thinks they’ll ever need.
Our outreach workers will regularly signpost clients to the appropriate services - whether that’s medical care, housing or other local community groups.
‘Ahmed* was fleeing a violent situation down South, and had been promised a job and accommodation should he come to Leeds. Unfortunately, this had fallen through.
Ahmed explained that he was an asylum seeker and showed us various paperwork and his ID card. We signposted him to PAFRAS's weekly drop-in, where they would be able to look at his case.
At this drop-in, Ahmed was able to speak with someone in his own language and explain his story, in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
Ahmed has now been re-located to somewhere new in Yorkshire, to start a new life as a UK citizen. He was offered help with accommodation and has settled well into the new area, making it his home.’
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Simply providing someone with a place to sleep is not the way to end homelessness. The work our outreach workers do is invaluable, but they can only continue to make a difference with your help. It’s only with your donations that we can keep our outreach workers out in the community, making a difference to the lives of people facing homelessness.
If you’d like to fundraise for Simon on the Streets, there are plenty of ways to get involved.
*Names changed to protect clients’ identities.