Inquirer Christmas campaign: 'I’ve worked with nurses at risk of becoming homeless'
How the Cyrenians offer more than simply shelter to those in need
A common misconception is that homelessness – or its most visible incarnation, rough sleeping – is solved by providing shelter, of any kind. Whilst it is true that having somewhere to stay indoors is preferable to sleeping outside, there are many reasons why some people would rather try their luck on the street.
Temporary accommodation is sparsely available and can be poorly equipped. The Welcome Centre in Edinburgh, whilst a great short-term option, cannot be relied on long term and is only available in the Winter months. Many people who find themselves rough sleeping have been through so much, that they find it difficult to trust any person – or organisation – who offers their help.
People experiencing homelessness need more than just shelter. They need what we all need - safety, comfort, community and stability and, sometimes, a little bit of support, to transition into the next chapter of their lives.
As you are about to find out, Cyrenians strives to provide that support to people across Edinburgh and beyond. As we near Christmas, please consider supporting this local charity conduct it’s vital work. For just £8 a month, you can make a real difference. Click here to get started.
These things are especially important for young people who, growing up, may not have had the privilege of a house that felt like a home. Care experienced young people are one of demographics most likely to be pushed into homelessness in later life. The reasons behind this are complex but can often be traced back to the sudden and unsupported transition from care, into adult life.
Helping the young transition…
Nicole leBlond manages several of Cyrenians residential communities that are available for young people, some of whom move in as they transition out of care. Living alongside volunteers around the same age - and with support available from Cyrenians staff – the communities help young people with adverse childhood experiences slowly adapt to adult life, with the kind of peer and trusted adult support many of us may have taken for granted.
She said: “The communities are a unique service within homelessness provision. I came from 20 years of hostel management, to move over into these services felt like a breath of fresh air. People come here, and they have the time to actually think about what they want, what they want to do and where they want to go... For many of the people who come here, it’s the first time they’ve been asked those questions.”
“It’s not always straightforward – we sometimes have 13 or 14 different people, with different needs and experiences, all living under one roof. But what this creates is an environment, where people can build independent living skills slowly and naturally at their own pace.”
Young people who don’t have access to these or similar services are often funnelled out of care or secondary education and – if they aren’t able to quickly move into further education or a job that pays enough– are soon navigating waiting lists for social housing, unpicking their rights to disability allowance or learning how to manage universal credit payments.
These systems are not for the faint of heart – even adults with a great deal of life experience often find themselves relying on people like Denise Black, Cyrenians Income Maximisation Worker, for help.
The growth in the working homeless…
In recent years, Denise has seen a change in the demographics of the people she works with – and why they are contacting her. “Before it was really unusual for me to work with people who were in fulltime work, but now it’s quite common. I’ve worked with nurses who are at risk of becoming homeless, because private rental rates are so high. I also have been working with a lot of people who weren’t easily able to manage the transition into Universal Credit. Whereas before, housing payments were automatically paid to the landlord, now people have to do it themselves. I’ve helped a lot of people through that transition, setting reminders to check in with them and help them pay so they don’t build up rent arrears.”
As the years go by, and our systems that are meant to protect people get more complex and difficult to unpick, the more crucial Denise’s work has become. She remembers a family that she worked with, that before contacting her were dealing with £7,000 worth of rent arrears.
“I worked with two family members – one older and one younger - in a very expensive private let. He became unemployed and he was worrying about who was going to look after his elderly parent. I was able to get their housing benefits in place, figured out that they were entitled to disability allowance and was also able to get them access to discretionary housing payments. They went from facing eviction and several thousand pounds worth of rent arrears, to being debt free and on the waiting list for a more appropriate property.”
For many living in Edinburgh, social housing – a permanent, affordable place to call your own – is the ultimate goal. But even when you get to the end of the long waiting list, and are given a property that works for you, there can still be some challenges to face. On a low income, it can be difficult to furnish a property and if you are forced to move to a part of the city where social housing is available, it can be hard to build community.
Link workers who connect it all…
Hannah Edwards, one of several Community Link Workers employed by Cyrenians, is based within the Access Place – where people experiencing homelessness can access services including housing, health and social work from one city centre location.
Hannah and her colleagues receive referrals when a person comes in who needs a little more than just medical attention or help with housing.
She said: “Link Workers are there to help people with things that often fall through the gaps of the public sector’s jurisdiction. We can refer people on to an activity they might enjoy or even practical support setting up a home. We just aim to get to know the person in front of us and figure out what they need.... I’m often picking up furniture that people are giving away because I always know that I’ll have clients who will want it for their house’.
This kind of flexibility allows Hannah to support people in ways that they actually need, helping them build the right environment and emotional strength to maintain the housing that they have, make the best of sub-optimal temporary accomodation or push for accomodation that better meets their needs.
People like Nicole, Denise and Hannah are vital to the lives of so many people in Edinburgh. With their help, Edinburgh residents are able to move past the threat of homelessness and into a living situation that is more than just a roof over their head, but a well-equipped, affordable home that is comfortable to live in and surrounded by the kind of community that will support them in the future.
Please consider donating, to help Cyrenians continue to do this for years to come.