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Imagine being told to stay at home, when you don’t have one.
This moment in time is buzzing with murmurs of social activism, with impassioned voices starting to speak out against racism, against poverty, against inequality. The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted so many ways in which our society in the UK falls short of justly serving all members of the population. Homelessness is a visible example of the vulnerable and exposed; the current climate has forced the government to adopt new strategies in the face of a ‘stay at home’ instruction. It is a crisis which impacts every town and city around the world. As followers of Jesus, we surrender our hearts to be broken and then we have to step out and make a change- to recognise those who society has left to the literal cold of isolation and abandonment, as prized children of God with a call on each of their lives. Covid-19 has provided unprecedented opportunity to effect change in this crisis, and to get uncomfortable conversations started.
The progress in homelessness because of Covid-19 is ‘a silver lining in a very grey sky’ - Howard Sinclair (St Mungo CEO)
The Reality
Homelessness is a widely recognised social issue, but the assumptions in circulation often miss out key elements to this crisis. Most of us likely associate the image of rough sleepers with ‘homelessness’ but the ‘hidden homeless’ sector, comprised of squatters, sofa surfers and other vulnerable people who do not have a stable home situation, is much less talked about. CentrePoint, a charity serving homeless young people, estimate that this group totals 340,000 people - a staggering number. The main reasons for homelessness include relationship breakdown, lack of affordable housing and substance abuse but the most common reason is actually the AST (Assured Shorthand Tenancy), when people can be evicted without a reason, sometimes with as little as two weeks notice. Rough sleeping has increased hugely across the UK, although in Birmingham, the Ministry of Housing reported a 42% decrease in rough sleeping. However, the hidden homeless sector continues to grow, with sofa surfers surprisingly the largest constituent of the homeless collective, and hostel demand increasing. Both under labour and conservative government, homelessness has risen.
Everyone In - The impact of Covid-19
The Government funded £3.2bn for the ‘Everyone In’ scheme which saw 14,500 individuals sleeping rough/at risk taken off the streets pretty much overnight in the early stages of the Covid-19 crisis in the UK (March 2020). Contracts between councils and hotels have established many temporary accommodation placements, alongside hostels increasing capacity. This should be celebrated, of course, but equally we have to question - why does it take a global pandemic for this action to be considered urgent enough? It is ironic that for some rough sleepers, life will be improved as a result of the pandemic; we must think about our priorities as a nation : do we see safe accommodation as a basic necessity for all, or as a quick fix solution when homelessness becomes a public health risk? Do we frame the narrative around homelessness within the parameters of drug and alcohol addiction, or do we see individuals with a plethora of complex experiences in their lives which have pushed them to the borders? Of course, priorities change dependent on the most pressing financial call at any one time, and it is not as straightforward as saying that the government could have taken this action all along, but it is as simple as acknowledging that things need to be different- that the old ‘normal’ doesn’t work.
‘This has demonstrated that when the political will is there it is possible to end homelessness’ - Crisis
Where have we heard that before?
It’s not only BoJo who has coined this term, Jesus also says: everyone in! The promise of salvation and a life full of grace, trust and redemption is offered through the gospel for everyone. Jesus modelled reaching out to those hurting, those who others had given up on, and called them His- inheritors of the kingdom. (The Gospels are crammed with examples but Matthew 25 v 35- 40 jumps out : ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’)
Responding to homelessness is not simply about a ‘good’ thing to do, or social responsibility. It is about aligning our perspective with our creator God who wants everyone to be in on His life adventure- protecting and investing in people who have been sidelined is a heart-cry. In fact, Matthew 8:20 says that ‘the Son of Man has no place to lay his head’; homelessness is an experience Jesus is intimately connected with.
In or Out?
Within the BBC news discourse, the story changes daily. On 24th June it was broadcasted that homelessness could be ‘ended for good’ but less than two weeks later, the focus was the prospect of temporarily housed people being pushed back onto the streets with government funding being reduced. The government has pledged to make 3300 homes available within the next year, in a bid to prevent the problem from escalating, despite the fact that the imminent schemes are losing funding soon. Matt Downie, head of policy at Crisis said most of the contracts between councils and governments are due to run out at the end of June, with no indication of further funding. What will July look like for the homeless? Crisis estimates £282m is needed to transfer people in emergency accommodation to permanent housing for the next year. Helplines from charities like Crisis and Centrepoint have reported a huge increase in demand, and with the looming recession, young people are especially at risk of becoming homeless. Further, hostels have seen significant outbreaks of the virus because of cramped shared conditions, where the luxury of isolation isn’t feasible.
The Home Truth
So, we are at a unique and crucial moment for homelessness within the UK; the profile has changed hugely within a matter of months, but the coronavirus crisis continues to make a huge number of people vulnerable to homelessness, with a rise in unemployment, domestic abuse and mental health issues. What can we do to ensure that this turning point is in a positive direction?
Our meeting definitely opened my eyes to multiple issues within the ‘homelessness’ label, and it can be hard to know what to do with a newfound indignation towards yet more layers of injustice, especially in the contemporary context where news feeds are crammed with inequality and a painful absence of agape love . I was reminded lately that as Christians we have the ability to claim higher stakes : we seek justice in Jesus’ name, we serve people who God has not forgotten about and it’s important to remember this when the political stance wavers.
We will take one of two paths here: one is that 15,000 people are permanently helped out of homelessness through the amazing Everyone In scheme, or we will see a massive increase in this country just at the point when we thought it would be possible to avoid that’ - Matt Downie (Crisis, Director of Policy)
Pressing Home
So, how can we respond on a personal and public level?
1. Pray. In a pessimistic world, we need to intercede and be expectant that God can turn around the bleakest situations. The lyrics of Bethel’s 2020 anthem ‘Anything is Possible’ speak of the battles that God has already won ; it’s so important to remember God is in control and can (and will!) work for good in seemingly hopeless situations. The vision for a world without homelessness is idealistic, yes, but also possible for God. This is a potentially pivotal movement for the homelessness crisis; let us pray that this is the start of a new era.
2. Change our perspective. The popular view that people have ended up on the streets because of self-inflicted circumstances, based on drug and alcohol addictions, doesn’t scratch the surface of the stories of many of the people who are struggling without a home. We need to see individuals, not just statistics: to see people with a room in God’s house (John 14:2-3) even when they can’t find one in their towns and cities.
3. Shift the tone of the conversation. We can all be guilty of walking past rough sleepers, and avoiding uncomfortable situations, particularly with a ‘them’ and ‘us’ view dominant in society. Let’s challenge ourselves to talk to our peers about the reality of homelessness, of the hidden sector, of the complexity of situations that lead individuals to becoming homeless. The revolt against racism has blown up on social media: an inspiring example of the power of tough conversations dramatically shifting perspective and reframing the narrative around an issue.
4. Get involved practically. There are some amazing charities (see links at the end of the blog) involved in supporting the homeless. CentrePoint supports young people at risk of homelessness, and they have a scheme where donations of 40p a day can fund a room for a young person. Giving is a huge way to support these charities to extend their work. Buying food and drink can be helpful short-term provision, but investment in long term movements to change the lives of individuals goes beyond a sandwich of course!
5. Invest in relationship. Definitely the most challenging for most of us; the prospect of going out of your way to have a conversation with someone on the street is anxiety-inducing. Will they think I’m pitying them? Will they not want to talk? Will they ask me for money I’m not comfortable to give? Our thoughts can hold us back. But the deficit in relationship and feeling validated as a human being is just as pertinent for many homeless people as the food deficit. Sometimes we must take risks and start the probably awkward, maybe unsuccessful but also possibly day-changing conversation. In Birmingham, the Let’s Feed Brum group have started weekly gatherings where homeless people can come for food and drink- this is a good place to start building relationships with regular meetups. Of course, face to face conversations are less relevant in the period of Covid-19, but the risk taking attitude, asking someone’s name and counter-culturally choosing to see the person in front of you, not their situation, will always be relevant !
Matthew 14:29: ‘He said, “Come.” So, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.’ Getting out of the boat and out of our comfort zone is hard, but when the mission lines up with getting that little bit closer to the Kingdom on earth, it’s worth getting out of the boat!
The Home Front
For more information and opportunities to volunteer/donate, these are a few of the amazing charities involved with battling this crisis and giving people safe places to call home.
- CRISIS
- CENTREPOINT
- SHELTER
-KINGS ARMS PROJECT
- LETS FEED BRUM
Lilys x
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