Turning Tides charity launches emergency appeal to support homeless people

Turning Tides, which has been supporting homeless people for the last 28 years, has seen an unprecedented need for its services in the last few weeks – and this rise is set to continue, according to chief executive John Holmstrom.

At the same time, the cancellation or postponement of all its community and fundraising events could result in as much as a 50 per cent reduction in fundraising income for the charity.

Mr Holmstrom said: “We have never seen anything like the situation we are facing now and urgently need to ask for help.

“The picture we are facing as an organisation is deeply troubling.”

The public are being asked to join a ‘campaign to keep homeless people in our community alive’ and make vital emergency donations through the charity’s website here.

Mr Holmstrom said: “We have 21 properties across the county supporting some 200 homeless people.

“Additionally, we are providing vital practical and emotional support to growing numbers of rough sleepers being housed in temporary accommodation to limit the spread of the virus.

“There is an unprecedented demand on our services and this will only increase in the weeks and months to come.

“Many of our courageous frontline staff are designated keyworkers and, like our colleagues in the NHS, they are under huge pressure and putting their own health on the line as they support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Homeless people are extremely vulnerable in the face of Covid-19 and have been named as high risk by the government.

They include men and women whose health has already been damaged by trauma, rough sleeping and poverty.

As many as 80 per cent of the people supported by Turning Tides have mental health issues and about half of their service users are aged over 50, a charity spokesman said.

Even without the threat of a virus, homeless people die on average 30 years sooner than the general population.

Three weeks ago the government set in motion an ‘Everyone In’ initiative to slow the spread of the virus through this particularly vulnerable group, which aims to offer every homeless person temporary accommodation during the crisis.

Turning Tides has been working around the clock, with colleagues across sectors, scouring the streets and countryside, to find homeless people and bring them in to empty hotels and other temporary accommodation, a spokesman said.

Ruth Poyner, head of fundraising and communications, said: “On the streets, homeless men and women often survive on the generosity of the public who give to them directly.

“Now they are temporarily housed in local hotels and B&Bs and they are very much alone, frightened, in poor health and more unsure than ever as to what the future holds.

“They are often staying in one room with no support networks or family to lean on.

“These men and women are reliant on our frontline staff who are stretched to the limit providing emergency support, ranging from food and toiletries to mental health support and health education, including the basics of handwashing, social distancing and self-care.

“Moreover, the number of homeless people is growing.

“For every rough sleeper approximately 20 others are sleeping on sofas, in vehicles, or insecurely housed.

“Now, as the virus spreads, these arrangements are breaking down. Covid-19 is accelerating financial hardship, relationship breakdown and mental health issues, all of which contribute to homelessness.”

The challenges faced by charities were acknowledged by the Government last week, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a £750 million fund to support charities through the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Holmstrom said: “The fund is of course a welcome announcement but we also know it won’t go far enough and won’t reach everyone in need.

“As a whole, the charity sector is set to lose a staggering £4 billion in 12 weeks.

“More people than ever need our help and therefore we have to do everything we can to support them.”

The Turning Tides Emergency Covid-19 Appeal also asks for people to provide their email addresses via the website so the charity can keep the community informed during the weeks and months ahead.

Donate to the charity here.

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