Homelessness, hiring and hustling
Searching for answers
The drop in temperature last night was felt hard by the rough sleepers.
Giving out food and other items on Sunday night at Shekinah felt like summer was here already; people were happier, it was still warm at 6pm and winter was over. But last night (Thursday) the cold chill of winter was back.
We were doubling up on hot drinks and back to giving out gloves and sleeping bags. Standing around giving out food we could feel the cold but we would soon be back in our warm cars and onto the next stop and some went back to their (mainly) temporary accommodation whilst others found somewhere to hunker down; out of the wind, out of sight, out of mind to everyone else.
Homelessness
Not everyone we serve is sleeping on the street. Most have some kind of temporary accommodation but they can find themselves back on the street again. Some are on and off the street for many different reasons. But very few want to be on the street.
Hiring
I have no hard data to back this up but I estimate that maybe 10% of the people we help at Plymouth Soup Run want to and can get back to work. And they will.
Others have different needs and priorities for tomorrow and there are thankfully a…
