A time to consider those who sleep rough – and those who work hard to help them
Posted by Richard | Filed under Housing
The King’s Arms Project held their biennial “Sleep Out” on Friday to raise awareness of the problems for people who have to sleep rough on our streets here in Bedford and Kempston. On this topic, as on others, The King’s Arms church is dedicated, knowledgeable, caring and inspiring. Their leadership is providing help and insight to some of the most disadvantaged in our community.
In her talk, Ali Inwood, CEO of the King’s Arms Project, mentioned how important it was to recognise that every instance of a person sleeping rough is an individual story, with an individual history of events and circumstances that has led that person to the need to sleep rough.
The volunteers of King’s Arms make a real, positive impact on people’s lives. I hope the next Government can encourage them to do even more to help.
March 24th, 2010 at 10:31pm
The problem of the homeless is above politics; the solution is deepy political. I am glad to see you taking an interest as I feel that tax-funded provision has largely failed and the only hope is the decency of people who can afford to help financially and in other ways. I am moved by the sight of a local homeless man who can be seen all over the town and at the support he gets, unsung, from individuals. I was buying fish ‘n’ chips in Denmark St and he was outside. As I was paying I asked the chippy to take another coin or two and give the man a meal. ‘Don’t worry’, he said, ‘we look after him anyway’. Now they don’t publicise that, bless ‘em. And I’ve also seen the same chap at a picnic table in a garden off Castle Road, eating a hot meal that someone must have invited him to take. Now, is there any way that we can harness that feeling of obligation to help with (eg) accommodation and clothing? In London the St Martin’s Trust does magnificent work, offering people, if they want it, a package that enables them to leave the streets, get an address and clothes and all the help they need to get back into work. Is the problem in Bedford big enough to warrant a similar effort here?