HOMELESSNESS remains a “big challenge” for Jersey, according to Sanctuary Trust chair Tim Ringsdore – as the charity looks to raise awareness as part of World Homeless Day today.
The Trust is today due to hold a community stand at Charing Cross from 11am to 3pm.
The event is intended to raise awareness and give Islanders the chance to learn more about the work of the charity, which provides accommodation and tailored support to men facing homelessness.
In February last year, the Jersey Homelessness Strategic Board – formed in 2019 to develop collaboration between community groups and the government – stated that the outlook for tackling homelessness in the Island was “bleak”.
Commenting on whether the situation had improved since then, Mr Ringsdore said: “It’s still remaining a big challenge, but there has been some progress.”
He continued: “We can see that Andium are obviously constructing a lot more homes.
“So hopefully in the near future some of those will become available, so that when we have homeless people or other charities have homeless people that need to be rehoused, there’s a few more buildings available for them to be moved into.
“That’s always been a bit of a challenge in terms of available accommodation, so hopefully things will get better in the near future as a result of some of those new buildings coming to completion.”
Data collected by the government showed that during the first quarter of this year, there were 321 service visits by 304 Islanders to the Housing Advice Service and providers of accommodation and services for those suffering from homelessness.
This included 253 people who were classed as being “houseless”, meaning they had a temporary place to sleep, such as institutional or shelter accommodation.
And 32 were classed as living in “insecure housing”, which includes situations where a person is living in an insecure tenancy, under an eviction order, living temporarily with friends or family, or living in a domestic-abuse situation.
A further ten people were classed as being “roofless”, which includes those sleeping rough.
Mr Ringsdore described the data being collected as “absolutely essential”.
“It’s not just about the people that that we deal with – we know there are people sofa surfing, living in cars, living in vans still, potentially in the summer people in tents,” he explained.
“So getting clarity on how many people can’t afford to have their own accommodation, either rented or shared, that’s important for us to understand.
“Because that will help focus everybody’s attention on what needs to be resolved and what sort of accommodation needs to be provided in the future.”
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said: “On World Homelessness Day, we are reminded that everyone deserves a safe and secure place to call home.
“In Jersey, we remain committed to preventing homelessness wherever possible and to supporting those who find themselves without stable accommodation.”
Deputy Farnham continued: “This requires close partnership across government, community and charitable organisations, to provide not only shelter, but also the care, stability, and opportunity that helps people rebuild their lives.
“The strength of our Island lies in our compassion, and we will continue working to ensure that every person in Jersey has the foundation of a secure home and the dignity it brings.”
Sanctuary Trust is also encouraging Islanders to take part in its annual Sleep Out fundraiser, which it is hoped will raise £50,000 this year.
Sponsored by Skipton International, the event will see participants abandon the comfort of their homes for a night in Pier Road car park.
It is scheduled to take place from 8pm on Friday 14 November.
Charlotte Dunsterville, chief commercial officer at Skipton International, said: “We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
“That’s why we’re proud to support the Sanctuary Trust, whose work transforms lives across Jersey.
“Through initiatives like our Skipton Community Fund and events such as the Sleep
Out, we aim to make a real difference in tackling homelessness.
“Taking part in the Sleep Out is a powerful act of solidarity, and we’d love to see individuals, families, and businesses join us in raising vital funds and awareness for this important cause.”
All of the funds raised from the Sleep Out will support the work of the Sanctuary Trust, which was set up in 2011 to provide emergency accommodation for men facing homelessness.
As well as accommodation and support, the charity provides counselling and pathways into employment and securing longer-term accommodation when residents are ready to live independently.
Noting the current economic climate, Mr Ringsdore highlighted the fundraising challenges facing the charitable sector as Islanders contend with a reduction in disposable income.
“We are lucky that there’s a number of different foundations in the Island where you can apply for grants, and we continue to do that, and we do get some support from government as well,” he said.
“So hopefully, with a combination of those things, we’re able to continue to cover our costs, which unfortunately keep increasing each year.
“We are so lucky that we have such a generous donations from various individuals, citizens [and] corporations in the Island.
“That’s why raising the awareness has to be part of what we do to make sure that people are aware that this problem is not going away in the near future.”
