Representatives from a local homelessness charity are due to be at a community stand at Charing Cross today to raise awareness about “the realities of homelessness in Jersey”.
Sanctuary Trust is holding the event, which is scheduled to take place from 11:00 to 15:00, to mark World Homeless Day and encourage support for the charity’s upcoming Sleep Out fundraiser.
Sponsored by Skipton International, the Sleep Out will see participants abandon the comfort of their homes for a night in Pier Road car park. It is scheduled to take place from 20:00 on Friday 14 November.
All of the funds raised from the Sleep Out will support the work of the Sanctuary Trust, which was set up in 2011 to provide emergency accommodation for men facing homelessness.
As well as accommodation and support, the charity provides counselling and pathways into employment and securing longer-term accommodation when residents are ready to live independently.
Sanctuary Trust chair Tim Ringsdore said: “World Homeless Day is a chance to come together as a community, learn more about the realities of homelessness in Jersey, and take action.”
Data collected by the government showed that during the first quarter of this year, there were 321 service visits by 304 islanders to the Housing Advice Service and providers of accommodation and services for those suffering from homelessness.
It’s not just about the people that that we deal with – we know there are people sofa surfing, living in cars, living in vans still, potentially in the summer people in tents
Tim Ringsdore
This included 253 people who were classed as being “houseless”, meaning they had a temporary place to sleep, such as institutional or shelter accommodation.
And 32 were classed as living in “insecure housing”, which includes situations where a person is living in an insecure tenancy, under an eviction order, living temporarily with friends or family, or living in a domestic-abuse situation.
A further ten people were classed as being “roofless”, which includes those sleeping rough.
Mr Ringsdore described the data being collected as “absolutely essential”.
“It’s not just about the people that that we deal with – we know there are people sofa surfing, living in cars, living in vans still, potentially in the summer people in tents,” he explained.
“So getting clarity on how many people can’t afford to have their own accommodation, either rented or shared, that’s important for us to understand.
“Because that will help focus everybody’s attention on what needs to be resolved and what sort of accommodation needs to be provided in the future.”