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#HopeOnFilm 2: Homelessness

 

(Press play to watch our HopeOnFilm: Homelessness video above or click here to watch it on Youtube)

WHAT IS HOMELESSNESS?

One of the challenges around homelessness is that in some ways we can be over familiar with it. The reality is that anyone can become homeless, in fact experience shows that we are only ever a few steps away from it ourselves.

Homelessness is also a broad problem. Large numbers of people experience street homelessness, and couples and families are on long waiting lists. Many people are longing for somewhere they can call home. These are issues of limited housing availability, problems with Universal Credit, family and relationship breakdown, domestic abuse, addiction and poor mental health. Many of these issues combine and result in homelessness, making solutions complex.

Homelessness is a national problem that needs both a national and local response. It’s a societal problem which needs an immediate, short-term and the more complex long-term strategic solutions.

Alongside the provision of immediate practical help we need to remember that there are individuals right at the heart of these issues.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

Everyone deserves a home, it is a human right to have somewhere that provides shelter and safety. It is a fundamental within the hierarchy of needs.

Despite the complexity, the depth and breadth of homelessness, working together in partnership across the city can make a difference in people’s lives. 

Support for the long-standing initiatives/services and also for innovative interventions, both Christian and non-Christian, can have a positive impact for both the people being supported and those giving their support.

Our responses need to be open-handed and non-critical.

We need to be looking at a combination of immediate responses to obvious need as well as longer term broad solutions to improve wellbeing and provide sustainable housing.

HOW CAN CHRISTIANS ENGAGE?

We can help tackle Homelessness by being champions

  1. Look out for ways where you can support and be part of existing ongoing local initiatives - Christian and non-Christian.

  2. Local churches are places where we can mobilise as larger groups. We can support with volunteer power or create and innovate new ideas, look at longer term sustainable housing, etc.

  3. When we encounter people who are homeless, remembering that they are people just like us.

Featured in the Homelessness film are a number of organisations/initiatives:

inHope (formerly Crisis Centre Ministries) is one of many organisations across the city dealing with the challenge of homelessness - it incorporates The Wild Goose, Spring of Hope, Life Recovery and the East Bristol Foodbank. 

“We're there for those who need us most in #Bristol, offering food, shelter, hope & support.”

They are a locally based charity heavily reliant on voluntary contributions and committed volunteers and actively partner with individuals, community groups and companies to deliver these projects to achieve a bigger impact together.

You can support them through volunteering, practical donations, fundraising and prayer. Find out more at https://inhope.uk/get-involved/

Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter (BCWNS) is a partnership of churches providing shelter to an agreed number of guests per night. Guests are people who would otherwise be sleeping rough and are referred via St Mungo’s (Bristol City Council commissioned provider of rough sleeper services).

During January, February and March, several church venues offer shelter adopting a Housing Justice model. Whilst BCWNS is organised through a partnership of churches, volunteers don’t have to be church goers and so we welcome volunteers whether they are drawn from church communities or the wider local community.

Go deeper with our spotlight on Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter

Fishponds Baptist Church has partnered with Hope into Action, a Christian charity that enables churches to provide homes for those vulnerable to homelessness. 

Referrals are made to the houses from a variety of agencies- these include homeless outreach teams, probation, prison resettlement services and rehabs.

The aim is to provide homes for people who have a desire to turn things around and change their lives so that they can reintegrate in a healthy way back into society. 

Hope into Action provide training so that the tenants in these houses are provided with 2 mentors from the church and an Empowerment Worker. 

They also give guidance, advice and are always there to answer questions or help us with various situations as and when they arise. Fishponds Baptist Church never feel like they are doing this ‘on their own’ as a church - it is a genuine partnership.

For more info, contact richard@fbcbristol.org.uk, or Hope into Action’s website: www.hopeintoaction.org.uk.

Other organisations providing support to the homeless and whom need your support:

Download the #HopeOnFilm Homelessness Film & Press Pack

We’re created a set of resources that allow you to use this content as part of your presentation and social media. Inside the press pack is the above film as well as a presentation, graphics and additional notes. Download the #HopeOnFilm Homelessness Film here via Dropbox.

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Spotlight: Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter

Find out more about the Bristol Churches Winter Night Shelter, watch their Impact Report video and download a ditigal copy of the report itself.