Preston Soup Run

Plans to ban soup runs near Westminster Cathedral

2011-02-28T19:02:00.000Z

28 February 2011 Last updated at 17:23

Taken from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12594397?print=true

The council says the soup runs cause littering, violence and disorder. Soup runs around Westminster Cathedral could be banned in an effort to discourage rough sleeping in the area.Westminster Council said up to 100 people gathered at the piazza when hot drinks were given out, making it a no-go area for residents and businesses.

The Coombe Trust, a charity which has provided free food for two years, said it would defy the "draconian measures".

A by-law could be in force by October if the Conservative-run council's plans are backed in a public consultation.The council said local residents and businesses had to deal with littering, violence and disorder as a result of large numbers of people gathering for free food.

A spokesman for Westminster Cathedral said the council owned the piazza and the bill was a council initiative. He added that the cathedral would take part in the consultation.

Daniel Astaire, cabinet member for society, families and adult services, said: "It is wrong and undignified that people are being fed on the streets.

"There's nothing on God's earth that will stop me doing this” David Coombe Street Souls.

"Efforts by local organisations responding to the needs of the most vulnerable within their own community are to be applauded. "However, soup runs on the streets in Westminster actually encourage people to sleep rough in central London, with all the dangers that entails."

While homeless charities St Mungo's and Thames Reach backed the plans, other charities and councillors were against the bill.The Coombe Trust organises soup runs twice a month outside the cathedral - under the name Street Souls - and has been operating for more than two years.

David Coombe, the trust's chief executive, said: "The need is there. We are not seeing the same people all the time, which is a good sign, but there are a few. "We set up tables and an orderly line is formed. We take brooms with us, we take bins with us and water to wash down if necessary. We leave the place better than we find it.

"The plans are incredibly draconian measures they are trying to enforce here. There's nothing on God's earth that will stop me doing this."

Leader of the Labour group on the council, Paul Dimoldenberg, described the plans as "cold-hearted and mean-minded". "People who take food from soup runs are really down on their luck.

"It's more than banning them [soup runs], it is to criminalise the people who run them, so the generous-hearted people from the various charities and churches who currently run the soup runs will be fined if they continue their Good Samaritan practices."

A spokesman for the cathedral said: "Westminster Cathedral has a long association with local charities including the Passage and the Cardinal Hume Centre which help homeless people."

About 150 people sleep rough in Westminster on any given night and 98% of those people "have no connection to the borough", the council said.

Information foxton centre: winter watch

2010-12-02T12:59:00.000Z

Winter Watch is the name given to short term overnight emergency shelter provided to rough sleepers in the event of there being an extended period of extremely cold weather.

Winter Watch is triggered when for three consecutive days and nights (72 hours) the temperature fails to rise above freezing. The likelihood of this occurring can be gauged by viewing the Met Office website which gives a specific forecast for Preston. The Head of Housing Advice at Preston City Council has discretion to call Winter Watch when the temperatures reach close to this situation and it is deemed appropriate to open the Winter Watch provision.

Do people on the streets know how to access this provision? Is there information in local libraries? for example...The facilities are there (for some) which is good but accessing them is not an easy task due to the lack of information being widely available . A free phone number would be helpful for people with little or no resources or even putting the details on the blog that could be accessed from the free Internet in the bus station for example.

Winter Watch is a life saving provision so its important that it is highly visible to all who need it for that fact, its like, its there and its not there.

Winter 2010/ 2011: Its another cold one...

2010-12-02T12:33:00.000Z

Homeless man beaten by thugs near Roper Hall

2010-03-24T11:53:00.000Z

While we were doing soup run last week we came across stories of people being attacked by young thugs on our streets. Only last week an elderly man between 58 & 63 years old; who sleeps on Preston's streets was attacked from behind by two young thugs for money or anything else they could get.

The man was beaten around the face and head leaving him needing stitches and badly bruised. He told us he was hit with a club of some sort.

The man is now afraid to be on the streets in case of being attacked again. Something needs to be done for this man and the other people still sleeping on our streets. Its not safe.

This has not been the first time when a thug or groups of thugs attack vulnerable people on the streets, like a pack of dogs.

Where is the help for the people still sleeping on the streets?

Many people have been housed since Christmas and the cold weather, which is great news. But there are still people sleeping rought, looking over their shoulders in case their the next victim of these heartless thugs.

Something needs to be done! People are not safe sleeping on the streets.

Winter Report Feb 8th - 12th 2010

2010-02-08T19:02:00.004Z

Winter watch needed again...

Has anyone seen soldier Billy?

2010-02-06T15:06:00.002Z

This was the story from the LEP: Published Date: 22 January 2010

A man with an imitation firearm was Tasered by police in Preston city centre. The 43-year-old, of no fixed abode, was threatening to harm himself on Cheapside at around 4.10pm on Friday. (22nd January)

So where is he now? Does anybody know, please get in touch as people are concerned for his well being. You can listen to him on Preston Soup run's blog talking about his life on Preston's streets.

Overdose at Fox St Night Shelter

2010-02-06T14:42:00.002Z

There is very little information on what happened as of date the local media is not reporting the story...What we know is between the days Thursday and Friday a man was found behind the door dead in his room at the Fox St Shelter; from what we have been told on the streets he died of an overdose.

Who was he? We will try and find out

Police appeal after city centre character not seen for weeks

2010-02-04T15:52:00.003Z

Thomas Billington

LEP Story:

Published Date: 04 February 2010

Police are appealing for information about a missing man.

Thomas Billington, 67, is well known in Preston city centre and has lived rough for a number of years.

But he has not contacted his family or friends in recent weeks and Sgt Paul McLernon from Preston Police said: "The family of Mr Billington are becoming increasingly concerned.

"Our inquiries in and around the city centre with friends and acquaintances of Mr Billington have proved unsuccessful. I am appealing to anyone who knows anything to get in touch."

Anyone with any information about Mr Billington is asked to contact the police on 0845 1 25 35 45 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Don McCullin's 1989 film about London's homeless

2010-01-28T16:45:00.000Z

Don McCullin, an internationally-regarded British photojournalist particularly recognised for his war photography and images of urban strife, examined the underside of society - the unemployed, downtrodden and the impoverished - in this moving 1989 film for Newsnight.

Newsnight's librarian Adam Gotch chose this film because it was one of the earliest examples of the programme using a famous person as the reporter. Don McCullin had approached Newsnight because he wanted to tackle the homeless problem and even though he had photographed many awful situations he was still deeply affected by what he found and his compassion is really tangible.

Originally broadcast on 24 October 1989.

Homeless back on the streets!

2010-01-22T01:20:00.002Z

Town Hall Meeting
Date: 11.01.2010
Time: 11am - 13:00

Agenda

Introduction by Coun Albert Richardson (opening)
Background to Preston Souprun by Dave Eaton
Background to Stanhope St Shelter by Paul O'Hara
Open discussion to find long term solutions for rough sleepers on the streets of Preston

------------------------------------------

Report on what happened in the meeting; if I miss anything said please let us know in the comments so I can update the report.

Today was the day we invited everyone to join us in putting our collective heads together to work towards and find long term solutions for people sleeping on the streets of Preston. There was approx 30-40 people who attended the meeting from many different backgrounds from people on the streets, concerned Prestonians, religious people, city councillors, UCLan students and other organisations, thank you to you all.

Sadly the organisations missing from the list of attendance were the organisations that form the Preston Homeless Forum who are on the frontline. We will catch up with them at the Preston Homeless Forum on the 25th Jan. (we did receive email from Tim Keightley the Chair of Preston Homeless Network, entitled "Emergency Shelter not the answer to rough sleeping in Preston")

Apologies:

Coun Matthew Brown.
Coun Carl Crompton
Greg at the Salvation Army who doesn't work on Thursdays
Fiona Fothergill Barnardos
Coun Neil Cartwright

The meeting was good and quickly turned into a lively discussion, what quickly came to the surface of the meeting was the talk of the Governments homeless strategy trying a one shoe fits all. This works for some people but not all; resulting in some people falling through the net of services that are available in this case the services of Preston. Otherwise there would be no need for a emergency drop in shelter, as the case the shelter was well used; and as of writing this post the shelter is still being used tonight. If the shelter wasn't there tonight the five people would be sleeping on the streets...

Other points brought up, was the Health and Safety laws being used to hide behind and as a result the people are being put back on the streets just to compile to ALL regulations, putting vulnerable people back into a dangerous situation where they could be attacked, freeze... Tell us where does Health and Safety come into it when you turn a person away and they have to again chance it back on the streets?

We showed with Stanhope St Shelter (we wouldn't hide from the fact it was not all plain sailing) that yes Health and Safety is important but there is a point when nothing gets done due to it...Anyway the shelter is too close (maybe 1 more night) then that is it...Whats next? Back on the streets that is what!

Just one point why is the Housing services phoning US tonight, US Preston Souprun, instead of the "official" fundedservices when someone arrives to Preston who is homeless? Maybe the fact that the shelter is a drop in shelter and is open for emergencies ? To me this shows that there is a need for the like of the old drop in style Fox St night shelter in Preston as before...Again if there was no shelter tonight this person would be sleeping on the streets...Maybe they phoned us because they knew that the person will 100% have a shelter for the night, be safe and have something to eat... Something to think about...

Suggestions we collected from today's meeting: Which each will be investigated.

Use of Churches...Why can't they be opened? Asking them what they can do? Wishlist?
Tithebarn building opposite the Town Hall...Preston City Council owned
Derelict buildings converted...To ask property owners if possible to use
Preston Homeless Fund...PayPal or other means using Preston Souprun site?
Porta-cabins in a carpark i.e. Foxton Centre? or places?
Looking at how information of services is distributed to people that need it
More proactive support, outreach...increased frequency of soupruns...other locations...
Squatting...
France model 24 hour freephone number through the Samaritans services
Generating public support... More community involvement
Direct Action...
Put pressure on the Government using motions and resolutions in Preston City Council
Contacting the breweries to find old pubs to use as shelter...can they help?
Investigate what is happening to the houses laid empty...Other places?
Metal huts put around the city as shelters, each with individual keys for people
Research Lancaster facilities...what are other towns, cities, countries facilities for people
Council Funding a homeless shelter
Proud Preston using the LEP voting to generate public support
Buy a property from the Capital fund from borrowing
Radical increase in the number of social rented properties available

This is just the beginning and we will be having more public meetings; and again every ones input is valued and needed. Please watch this space for updates.

How To Get Involved:

We do soupruns on Wed and Fri nights; meeting at Wetherspoons on Friargate 19:30
Some churches collect tin soup; which we can pickup and take out for soupruns

Be creative;

Thanks for your support

Preston Souprun & Stanhope St Emergency Shelter

preston.souprun@hotmail.co.uk

Emergency Shelter not the answer to rough sleeping in Preston: Preston Homeless Network Response

2010-01-22T00:15:00.003Z

Thirty agencies, including churches, charities, accommodation providers, the City Council and other public services have been working together as the Preston Homeless Network since 1989. Collectively we are working to an agreed three year strategy to eradicate rough sleeping in Preston.

There is already a consistent level of outreach contact with people sleeping rough in Preston. This ensures that people new to rough sleeping are quickly identified and put in touch with helping services.

All people sleeping rough are offered a route out of their situation and the support of partner agencies working together, to follow that route, if they choose to take it. This means addressing the causes of their homelessness and taking steps to avoid their situation being repeated. This sometimes includes working with people with complex needs; violent histories, mental health problems and chronic substance misuse issues.

Through the huge efforts of a wide range of caring people, both voluntary and professional, there is food and support available to people sleeping rough in Preston every day of the week. Various agencies give out sleeping bags, clothes and food parcels throughout the year and offer clothes washing and drying and shower facilities.

Whilst the official count of rough sleepers in November found four people, the Network is in contact with about a dozen people who have had some recent experience of sleeping rough. This figure is considerably reduced from that of a year ago; evidence that our strategy is working.

For the second year, in September, as part of the strategy and through the Network, agencies began to plan their response to the colder weather. The strategy was to implement Winter Watch which is the facility to access fully staffed emergency accommodation during periods of the most extreme weather. This is still in place if required.

All those who engaged with the Winter Watch and took up its services had the opportunity to improve their housing situation permanently.

No one was refused access to Winter Watch and plans were in place to take in even high risk people.

Some people sleeping rough chose not to access Winter Watch or any other provision.

For more information about the Network and its member agencies please visit
www.homelessinpreston.btik.com

Tim Keightley
Chair
Preston Homeless Network
01772 555925

Stanhope Street Emergency Homeless shelter To Close

2010-01-17T11:38:00.004Z

Stanhope Street Emergency Homeless shelter was opened on Tuesday 22nd December 2009. It will be closed on Wednesday the 20th January 2010 having been opened for a month.

During that period, homeless people living on the streets found refuge on over 120 occasions and were provided with shelter, warmth, food, clothing and a bed for the night.

However, even though the shelter has been a great success the homeless people are once again back on the streets and are in exactly the same vunerable position they were before the shelter opened. We had hoped that given the publicity both in the LEP and Radio Lancashire and the fact the Foxton centre, Salvation Army and Fox Street shelter were fully aware of this situation, that someone would have come forward with a long term solution to this problem. Sadly, this has not been the case apart from a few kind people who have made donations of bedding, food and other resources. We would like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their help and support.

In summary, we are now inviting the 'People of Preston', be it the Politicians, Civil Authorities, The Media, Leaders of Religious Organisations, Charitable Sector, Business Community and the General Public to an emergency meeting on Thursday 21st January 2010 at 11.00am in Preston Town Hall on Lancaster Road. The purpose of this meeting is to resolve this issue and move towards resolution.

When the shelter closes the people who have been living at Stanhope street will be back on the streets...

Homeless Rush blockade of Govt Dept, last Friday:

2010-01-02T17:43:00.003Z

Thanks to Mr Plotter for this article from: diggers350@yahoogroups.com

Homes for the Homeless - no more rough sleepers dying of hypothermia

On Friday 18th December, homeless people who were camped at Trafalgar Square with the Climate Camp decided to occupy the entrance to the Department of Communities and Local Government to highlight the plight of the homeless and in particular, the plight of rough sleepers in London this Christmas. In the style of the Climate Camp target of the Climate Rush, the direct-action strategy utilised was as a ‘Homeless Rush’, as a group of around 30 activists – some homeless – holding a variety of placards highlighting the reality of homelessness and the damnable dual reality that exists of 30,000 empty homes in London, marched on mass from Trafalgar Square down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. Outside Buckingham Palace there was a short assembly in front of the palace mainly in the presence of tourists, with activists signing chants such as "What do we Want", response "Homes, Homes!", "When do we want them?", response "Now, Now!". After this, the Homeless rush continued onwards to Victoria, reaching the Department of Communities and Local Government in short time.

Probably because of the monitoring of telephone numbers of people around Trafalgar Sq, as well as, of course, CCTV, the police at the Department of Communities and Local Government had advance notice that an action was planned at their place upon arriving there, meaning that protestors were unable to enter the building in any numbers (the doors were secured very
quickly, with one policeman standing in way of the entrance blocked by security and a wooden stake on the other side). But Homeless Rush sat down and blocked the main doorway entrance into the building. The protestors launched into songs and chants they'dd started up during their walk from Trafalgar Square.

Sat in the doorway of the government department with responsibility for housing, Homeless Rush protestors then abruptly stopped their song protest after a short while to share sandwiches, tea and mince pies amongst their number, also offered but politely declined by the officer stood over. By this time, ssmall group of activists went round to the other side of the building to block the entrance of the other main set of doors in and out of the building, preventing staff who’dd gone out for their lunch from re-entering the building.

Meanwhile, a large number of people who it appeared had been enjoying a Christmas party inside the building appeared to be stuck in a downstairs lobby unable to leave the building; blockaded inside as they appeared to be (because the doors were being prevented from being re-opened in case we entered inside on mass), they were left passive to our sporadic chants and slogans written on placards, some of which were held up to the glass for them to read.

The action was a great success, because after a while, two civil servants from the department came down to speak with the group, on the proviso they finish their protest. This was collectively agreed by all those involved, and the protestors then proceeded to gather in order to question the two government employees who at least gave the impression they held some degree of seniority in their department. This was filmed by one activist, with a lots of points raised, particular "the desperate plight of rough sleepers in London”, including a few personal testimonies of rough sleepers themselves. One man talked of how his best friend lost his life on the streets 2 weeks ago, dying of hypothermia. The same man also alleged that the homeless charity Crisis were only providing a 9 to 6 service this year, and not providing hostel accomodation this Christmas, especially outrageous since this is one of the coldest Christmas periods for many, many years.

Other pertinant issues raised included the travesty that despite of years of government throwing money around to prevent it, the presence of rough sleepers in central London outrageously remains as established a problem as ever, especially all-important in times of critical weather as the current time, as well as "the need for sustainable, self-build independent housing solutions" - with one example highlighted being 'Emmaus UK', a charity which helps start up and support
collectively rule-based managed communities where homeless people are encouraged to move on from homelessness" .

With proceedings have taken a convivial and cordial basis with many different people in attendance given the opportunity to speak about the issues being raised, with people from the department then brought down a tray of coffees for all to share, the two civil servants then a personal assurance that the views and issues raised would be reported back and that, on Monday lunchtime, they or a minister would meet with a delegation from the group at the Big issue offices to discuss these issues further.

Preston: forecast temperature 1-5 jan 2010

2010-01-01T20:26:00.003Z

Preston Five Day Forecast: 1-5 Jan 2010.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/nw/preston_forecast_temp.html

where do women who are homeless go in Preston?

2009-12-27T21:30:00.002Z

People tell us that there is no temporary shelter for women in Preston and the nearest shelter for women to use we are told is either Blackburn or Blackpool!

While Fox St can accommodate about 20 men, where do the women sleep? on the streets? in the parks?

...

Why is there no shelter for them?

Severe weather warnings have been issued for North West England

2009-12-27T20:53:00.006Z

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/nw/preston_forecast_temp.html

Will there be a winter watch?

Preston Soup Run Opens Winter Shelter 2009

2009-12-27T13:49:00.004Z

On Tuesday we were given the keys to a factory to use as a temporary winter shelter for people who are homeless or are needing a place to get out of the cold. The factory was donated to us by Councillor Albert Richardson after we had questioned the council asking what was put in place for the arctic conditions that were forecast for that week in Preston.

What we got as a result of daring to ask a question ( and also to get in the way of their plans for their Christmas dinner...! attacked...) The Tory Councillor Neil Cartwright spoke a lot of waffle as expected and attacks on us saying that we were attacking the people who do help people on the streets. For the record we think that people who day in day out help people are heroes and their work is to be supported; as we know it isn't always an easy "job" to do from our own experiences. But all we asked; was there a winter watch this year for emergency? and what are the details so we can pass them on to people so they can access it...

After a bit of an exchange the answer was no there wasn't anything they could tell us and no details to pass on to the people who will need it and he would go and have another meeting...(for full response)

After the meeting we received a phone call from Councillor Michael Lavalette saying that Councillor Richardson has a empty factory and did we want to use it over the winter and that Albert would cover all the costs. We arranged to meet up (Coun Albert Richardson and Coun Terry Cartwright showed us around) and as a result the shelter was born.

Community Helps Community

We phoned around to friends and family for equipment we needed, charity shops in Plungington, were very generous; with the article in the LEP we received equipment from people (thanks Norman). People responded as we knew people would if you asked for help.

Some would say this shelter was not needed...If one person is freezing on the streets then it is needed!

Ask the people who have used the shelter and you will quickly see why there was a need for this to happen. Preston is not a poor place; there are many people who have resources that can be used, sitting gathering dust as investments to make more and more money and as their greed increases, meanwhile people are freezing on the streets. Enough is clearly not being done as over four thousand people are without homes in Preston, they may not be on the streets (sofa surfing??? to give it Orwellian name ) sleeping on friends floors or sofas, families staying in b&bs...

We need new council housing!

The shelter will be run to the beginning of January (as far as we know) then we hope as result of this something will change and that people will have somewhere to sleep if they find themselves on the streets.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Factory-offers-outlet-for-citys.5938638.jp

Its's Hardwork, That's Why It's Called Struggle!

Other information:

christmas 09

EMERGENCY HOMELESS: WINTER WATCH 2009

2009-12-20T13:20:00.006Z

This is the original outline for the question we addressed Preston City Council with on Dec 17th 2009

> > Sunday 13th

> > December 2009.

Dear All,

Over the last two years we have been going out on the streets of the City of Preston two nights a week as voluntary outreach workers to serve people who are homeless. We try to help as best we can with limited funds and resources. We give soup and bread; clothes, blankets, advice and support.

However, in the last week we have noticed a substantial drop in temperature and people who are homeless are repeatedly informing us of the terrible problems and conditions they have to endure. They have asked us to write to all of you and respectfully ask is there anything that can be done? We realise that there is no provision within Preston or across the UK for temporary, emergency accommodation but there must be something we can

do. If not, then there will definitely be fatalities due to the projected and existing weather conditions throughout the

winter. Could you please answer the following questions:

Last year, there was a winter watch at the Foxton centre. Is this facility still in place and if so, what are the conditions, arrangements and contact details? If not... why not??

What emergency provision does Preston City Council have to help homeless people in the winter? Surely there must be at least ONE empty shop, building, resource or alternative facility that could be run by volunteers and opened up for homeless people at suitable times {10.00pm till 08.00am} during these life threatening

weather conditions rather than people sleeping rough on bits of cardboard in the open? If not...why not??

We understand that there is conflicting evidence and statistics with regards the number of people who are actually sleeping rough on the streets or parks of Preston but we know, from actual experience, that there is at least 10 people who are.

PLEASE HELP THEM.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND WE WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR.

Could Town Hall be a homeless shelter? YES

2009-12-20T12:54:00.002Z

PublishedDate:

18 December 2009

By Emma Broom

Preston's Town Hall could be used a soup kitchen for the homeless over Christmas.

The city's corridors of power are best known for the pomp and ceremony associated with the mayor and civic parades.

But calls have been made for the Town Hall to be used to help those facing the festive season on the streets in the city.

Despite a generous number of daytime shelters, Preston has a lack of night-time help for people living on the streets after the Fox Street centre became a more long-term shelter.

So Labour man Coun Robert Boswell suggested the council should lead the way, while another councillor threw down the gauntlet for others to follow her lead of taking a homeless person into her own home.

Widow Pauline Brown (Lib Dem) will be cooking Christmas dinner for a 16-year-old girl after hearing the teenager was sleeping on the floor at a friend's house which was "like a squat". She told colleagues: "Put your money where your mouth is – take a homeless person in for Christmas."

And Coun Boswell said parts of the Town Hall and other council-owned buildings should be used and said: "I want to look at how we can do something now over the next eight days and what we can do.

"If it's impossible, let's work and so perhaps we can do something next year."

Coun Neil Cartwright, cabinet member for development and community safety, said he would look into it "in the spirit of Christmas" and said: "I will explore with officers what we can do to help out."

Voluntary outreach worker Paul O'Hare works with homeless people two nights a week, giving out soup, clothes, blankets and advice, and believed there were at least 10 rough sleepers in the city and said many "migrated" to the city because the facilities were so good.

He said homeless people had asked him to see if any emergency accommodation could be set up.

He said: "If not, then there will definitely be fatalities due to the projected and existing weather conditions throughout the winter."

When the overnight temperature drops below zero for three consecutive nights, the council operates Winter Watch to provide rough sleepers with a place to sleep indoors between 10pm and 9am.

The 24-hour service for emergency housing is on 01772 251076.

Manchester hides soup kitchens

2009-12-09T13:12:00.000Z

Teo Kermeliotis

http://www.thepavement.org.uk/story.php?story=893

Accessing help has become more difficult for rough sleepers in Manchester after council bosses changed the location of soup kitchens for the second time in six months.

Local charities have accused authorities of trying to disguise the city's homeless problem.

Peter Green, from Christian street group Barnabus, told the Manchester Evening News: "We are going to bring the soup kitchen into our building on Bloom Street. I still feel it is the agenda of the council to be rid of soup kitchens. In the years we have been operating, we have been moved eight or nine times."

Outreach workers were asked to shift their mobile kitchens from the Mancunian Way skate park to Hoyle Street. The move follows an earlier relocation from Store Street, near Piccadilly Station, which was being used in the past four years.

"We have found it unhelpful. Our clients have been confused about where to go and it has not helped with planning," Paul Wenham, manager of the Mustard Tree charity, told the paper.

The city's authorities said the relocation reflected the concerns of neighbours and local business.

Susan Triggs, from the council's adult services, said: "We work hard to balance the needs of this type of provision against a constantly changing and developing city centre."

Affordable homes 80 years off for homeless families

2009-12-09T12:30:00.001Z

Published Date: 07 December 2009

It will take almost 80 YEARS for every desperate homeless family in Lancashire to get an affordable house, shocking new research reveals.

Figures from housing campaigners Shelter show that in some parts of the county families will be waiting more than 13 years to get homes while living in temporary accommodation.

The chronic shortage of affordable housing has grown considerably worse.

More than 35,000 families are now on the county's waiting lists compared to just 20,924 in 2004.

Now Shelter says the Government must take urgent action.

Caroline Davey, the group's deputy director of policy and campaigns, said: "The figures clearly show the desperate lack of affordable housing throughout Lancashire and how we are simply not building enough homes to meet the growing demand.

"The news will be a major blow to hundreds of thousands of people who may have to spend this Christmas, and many more to come, in run-down or unaffordable housing, or possibly trapped in temporary or overcrowded accommodation.

"The only way to give people hope is for all political parties to make housing a top election priority."

Sallie Bridgen, North West regional manager for the National Housing Federation, said: "Unfortunately, such bleak news about housing waiting lists in Lancashire is not surprising.

"There is a desperate lack of affordable housing throughout the region.
"This is set to increase further due to the economic downturn unless action is taken.

"The North West has seen the largest rise in households on waiting lists in the past five years.

"However, far too few new social homes are being provided. The solution is simple, we urgently need more social homes.

"Housing associations are working tirelessly to improve our communities, investing heavily in new homes, regeneration and new jobs. But Lancashire needs more resources to tackle deep and structural economic problems."

In Central Lancashire, councillors from Chorley, South Ribble and Preston are looking at the region's affordable housing needs.

In Preston alone it will take almost five years to clear the backlog of 4,749 waiting families. That compares to four years in 2007.

Fylde is the worst-affected area of the county, however, where 2,579 families will wait more than 15 years for a suitable home.

The Ribble Valley, which has some of the county's highest house prices, is close behind – 840 families will be waiting 13.33 years for an affordable home.

Conversely, in Wyre and Burnley, Lancashire also has the two lowest housing waiting lists – three and five months respectively.

Operation Destitute

2009-12-09T12:16:00.003Z

Since January 2008 the Police have been targeting people on the streets under the banner of Operation Destitute. The aim is to remove people who are on the streets who the Police claim are begging or gathering alms.

They are advising people not to give money to people as they will spend it on drugs and alcohol and to give to a charity. People can give to who they want to...

We say rehouse the people on the streets don't keep fining them, how does this help them because if they ever get a place, a job etc... they will be stuck with the numerous fines that they have been stuck on them whilst trying to survive.

As Christmas is here again the people on the streets are being more aggressively targeted so as not to get in the way of buying more crap that people don't really need, when in fact we could be helping someone out instead.

Don't Abuse us! Rehouse Us!

Community groups can reclaim empty houses

2009-11-28T13:20:00.001Z

Posted by Jon Fitzmaurice Wednesday 15 July 2009 00.01 BST The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2009/jul/15/community-reclaim-empty-houses

The practice of community groups taking loan of properties is neither new, nor that complicated

Empty housing can be reclaimed by community groups. All you have to do is ask. Photograph: Don McPhee

When I tell people it's possible to ask property owners to loan them empty houses so they can be returned to use, most look at me with a mixture of shock and excitement. They ask: "Doesn't that drive down property prices, and why don't owners put the houses up for rent?" They all ask: "How do you do it?"

The practice of community groups taking loan of properties that would otherwise be disused or empty for a fixed period and returning them to use isn't new, nor that complicated. It's called self-help housing.

The orthodoxy that property and land will always increase in value has crumbled. If there is no profit, there is no development, and properties lie empty with no one to buy or rent them. The Empty Homes Agency estimated that in 2008 there were 943,000 empty homes across the UK, at a time when government statistics indicated one in 12 people in the UK were on social housing waiting lists.

Empty properties damage communities, giving out a signal that a neighbourhood is failing. They attract more antisocial behaviour the longer they stay empty, and are more likely to end up completely unusable.

Whether for political or economic reasons, many owners - such as local get people into authorities - sit paralysed, while the indirect knock-on community costs of these empty properties grow. Market value is often considered more important than "use value".

Self- help housing is all about use value. It's grassroots, gritty and exciting. It generates opportunities for hands-on training and is community-based. It is local people solving local problems.

Self-help-housing.org is already in touch with successful initiatives across the country. Organisations such as Community Campus in Middlesbrough and Latch and Canopy in Leeds are doing brilliant work getting houses into use and helping young people in need of training and accommodation.

Self-help housing enables people to be active citizens, and it fights the culture of "someone should do something about that". It was once more common, but over the last two decades community development and regeneration has fallen into the hands of professionals preoccupied with management and measurement.

Self-help housing projects struggle to make ends meet, and it's a scandal they get little or no help from large and well-resourced housing associations. Many associations started as small initiatives set up by concerned local people. They have forgotten their roots.

Our website includes guides to finding property, making agreements, organising volunteers and getting funding. It has the first directory of active self-help housing projects, sample policies, contracts and agreements. It's revolutionary that all this information is appearing in one place for the first time. We're showing people how and why they can take back property into the community.

Self-help-housing.org is pushing self-help housing above the radar to secure much-needed support and funding and to inspire more people to do it. Community Campus's Carl Ditchburn recently told me: "We specialise in making silk purses out of sows' ears, and with the right support there's scope for many more projects to do the same."

To make a real impact in our communities, all it takes is a group of people and a property owner to use their imaginations and take those first steps.

• Jon Fitzmaurice is project director of self-help-housing.org. If you have an innovative housing scheme, why not enter the Guardian's Public Services Awards at guardian.co.uk/publicservicesawards

NEXT Preston Homeless Forum Meeting: MONDAY OCTOBER 26th 10am

2009-09-17T18:28:00.002+01:00

Preston Homeless Forum

C/O The Foxton Centre

Knowsley St.,Avenham

Preston PR1 3SA

tel 01772 555925

email: foxtoncentre1@tiscali.co.uk.

NEXT FORUM MEETING

MONDAY OCTOBER 26th 10am

Raising Money for Winter is Essential

2009-09-16T16:16:00.004+01:00

Last winter in Preston recorded as the coldest for 17 years and if the trend continues this winter will be no different. What we found last year we need more resources for people, whether its extra food, sleeping bags, socks etc... so this year a few of us will be doing the 5km Preston RUN in September to raise money to buy the supplies we need.

If you want to enter you can download the application from:

http://www.preston.gov.uk/events/details/90/

Or ask at the Town Hall for one.

GOOD LUCK

Concerns That There Could be a Rise In The Use of Crystal Meth in Preston

2009-09-04T11:06:00.004+01:00

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Use-of-addictive-drug-39on.5612498.jp

Published Date:
03 September 2009

By Matthew Squires

The use of an addictive drug called crystal meth is on the rise in cities of Lancashire, a new report claims. Police intelligence in thPreston points to an increase in use of the drug over the past 12 months.

However the police have so far failed to seize any of the drug. The admission comes in a new report on the work of the Safer Preston Partnership – a group made up of police, fire and council bosses and several other agencies – due to be discussed at the Town Hall next week.

Crystal meth, or methamphetamine, is highly-addictive and can lead to sore and infected skin, brittle and cracked teeth and massive brain damage.

In America, numerous before-and-after shots have highlighted the effects of long-term use.

The report also said 644 people in the city were given drug treatment in a 12-month period and almost 700 are known addicts, with serious class A drugs like heroin, crack and cocaine the most commonly used.

The report, which sets out the group's priorities between now and 2011, warns: "Nationally there has been a gradual increase in the availability of methamphetamine and it is more commonly used by multiple drug users.

"The city has seen an increase in the number of intelligence reports regarding the supply and use of methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine over the last 12 months."

But initial concerns over the use of crystal meth in Lancashire were raised in 2007, when the Lancashire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (LDAAT) said there was a need to keep an eye on its use in the county's club scene.

Preston Declares war on drunken tramps

2009-09-04T10:24:00.004+01:00

Published Date:
03 September 2009

By Stef Hall

Nuisance tramps and drunks have been banned from Preston city centre.

Business people and residents around Winckley Square and Fishergate in Preston complained to police about vagrants and alcoholics.

Now police, who today urged off-licences not to serve cheap booze to the city's tramps, have hit 40 people with temporary banning orders in the last month to keep them away from the city centre.

If they ignore the warning they can be arrested under the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 that prohibits drunks from entering the city for a specified period if officers believe they will be involved in anti social behaviour.

But police say Preston's off-licences play a big part.

Sgt Helen Nellany, of Preston police, said: "We are encouraging city centre off-licences not to serve to drunken people and we have also conducted test purchase operations. As of yet no-one given a warning has been arrested for breaching it.

"If not witnessed begging by police – which is a requirement if a member of the public will not give a statement – most of them are moved on and warned not to return, or taken to Fox Street.

"One individual has been arrested for begging We try to encourage people where possible not to give them money but to donate to the organisations which help them.

"We are working with the homeless forum and other agencies in finding them suitable accommodation."

Sarda Patel, of Ganesh News on Fishergate Hill, said: "I think it's good the police are trying to help businesses who have had problems with drunks but the crackdown could cause problems for off licences in that people can get aggressive if you refuse to serve them.

"We are fortunate as we don't get a lot of drunken people in."

Zero Tolrance Policing Not Needed!

2009-08-27T18:12:00.001+01:00

Over the last few months the police strategy for people on the streets has gone through a few phases. There was the standard harassment physical or verbally, then the use of the vagrancy act of 1824 of gathering alms, taking people to court and issuing them a fine!?

Now in the last 6 months there has been the introduction of the section 27: violent crime reduction act 2006. It is used to move an individual who has been or who they believe to have been drinking to another area and are banned from that area for a maximum time of 48 hours.

Bring the 6 months or so up to date and what do we find;

Published Date: 27 August 2009 (LEP)

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Drunks-are-leaving-a-mess.5593733.jp

Alcoholics are making life a misery for business owners on a main road out of Preston city centre.

Traders in the Fishergate Court complex on Fishergate Hill say they are arriving at work to find vomit, human waste and litter left by vagrants and drunks who are congregating there after being moved on from the city centre.

As it is clearly highlighted in the Police guidance of using Section 27; "care should be taken to ensure that giving direction to leave does not simply move a potential problem to another area".

PC Carl Ingram, community beat manager for Broadgate, said: "I think they gather here because it is close to the city centre, where many of them beg, and they are close to several off licences; throw in the fact that many people are there because your police force has excluded them from town and in fact has left them very little choice to be there; therefore unintelligent and reactionary policing has created this problem.

So what is the next idea they are going to come up with; oh yer also in the same article PC Carl Ingram, community beat manager for Broadgate says

"We have also been enforcing closure orders on properties on Fishergate Hill which has left some people homeless"

Where can people go? and the fact that some people find themselves on the streets due to closure orders put on where they lived! another bright idea throw people on the streets with nowhere to rehouse them, brilliant plan!

PC Ingram goes on to say”

"There is work ongoing to house people. But we have to be careful about where they are housed, and who with, to avoid the same problems recurring." Shouldn't of this been thought of before hand?

Where are these houses going to spring up from, as provision for people on the streets in Preston has been reduced... Maybe hoping they will be forced in to recycling lives or some other exploitative program.

There is no short term fix until capitalism is destroyed and until people look out for each other...instead of just looking out for number 1. Many people need help not just being moved on, swept under the carpet so people who shop in Preston don't have to see that there is a problem or acknowledge that we all have a responsibility to each other and not to close our eyes because the truth hurts or spoils our shopping experiences.

Maybe some compassion from the Police won't be a bad thing also...

3 Homeless People Die in Preston!!!

2009-08-13T18:54:00.003+01:00

Three homeless people died yesterday, one was found dead on market carpark, the other two people died on the way to hospital or at hospital. The cause of death is believed to be due to heroine overdose. Police have been talking to people warning them of there being bad shit on Preston streets.

This is not unusual to find bad shit on the street passed off as something else.

Recently there was the fake blue valium bought off the internet and sold a pound a tablet, these were found to be ketamine tablets cut with fish tank disease cleaner resulting in many people ending up in hospital.

Its shit on the streets...police harassment and being treat like shit everyday!

If you can help we are raising money for supplies I.e. blankets, sleeping bags, extra food...for winter is around the corner and last winter was the worst for a long time. Disobey! Will be doing the Preston run in September to raise funds Watch this site for further details.

Homeless People Are Being Attacked on Prestons Streets

2008-12-10T19:03:00.003Z

End of November and now in December has seen an increase in people who are homeless being targeted by the state. Over the last two weeks we have been with people to court, charged with "gathering alms" or begging backed by the vagrancy act of 1824. The people we have sat with are being given fines, that they can't pay; criminalising them.

The charges have no grounds, the people on the street are busking for tips; but the police are saying they are begging because they are not playing a guitar! Also we have spoken to people who have been beaten up in the cells...

We know what this is about and its about Christmas shopping; what a great message... attack the poor... that is what the capitalist system is interested in MONEY!

Many people are horrified about what is happening to people who found themselves on the streets. We are going out to help, more soup runs, support in court, putting on fund raisers; what are the council doing... Nothing, we again show that we can work without them!

Soup Run

2008-11-20T18:04:00.003Z

As the winter is here, we go out on the streets. For the last 2yrs we have been going out and giving food and clothing to people who need it. If you want to help we meet on Friday nights 7pm at the Greyfriars pub on the corner of Friargate

email turin24[at]riseup.net for details