Helping Portsmouth’s homeless and vulnerable through the Christmas period
As Christmas draws near, some people will be facing a cold and lonely festive season on the streets.
Last year more than 256 families or individuals in Portsmouth were homeless between October and December 2020.
The figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government also showed that an additional 172 households were at risk of homelessness in winter 2020 and were eligible for council help.
During the Covid lockdowns of last year, Portsmouth’s local authorities found accommodation for homeless people.
This year there are no such plans and we are predicted to have the coldest winter since 2010’s ‘big freeze’, so volunteers around Portsmouth are getting ready to help the homeless and vulnerable throughout the cold winter months.
Bev Saunders, 64, founded ‘Helping Hands’ in 2016 to help feed the homeless in Portsmouth.
‘Helping Hands’ is a FaceBook community group where individuals can donate or volunteer to provide hot drinks and meals to Portsmouth’s homeless and vulnerable.
“We started giving out hot chocolate and sandwiches and after that, we did a Facebook page, and then we just grew and grew from there,” Bev said.
“Now we are lucky we have volunteers who work with us.”
The past year has been tricky for many, with the unemployment rate currently estimated to be 5.5%.
When asked about the rise of homelessness, Bev said: “There are lots of different reasons why homelessness goes up and down.”
“Yes the pandemic hasn’t helped, also universal credit hasn’t helped.
“You know, people were giving all their money to pay their rent.”
Bev gives out breakfast to the homeless at the Cascades Fountain on Commercial Road on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with the help of 40 other volunteers who take turns to cook and cater to those in need.
“A few even call me Mum,” Bev added.
Helping Hands are independent of the councils services and welcome anyone in need with open arms.
“We don’t say ‘because you don’t engage with other services you can’t come to us’,” Bev added.
“You don’t need to fill out forms to come and eat with us, you can just come and eat.”
Lola, 25, was living rough on the streets of Portsmouth when Helping Hands first found her.
“Helping hands didn’t just feed and chat to us, they helped on the bad days and cheered with you on the good days,” Lola said.
Lola now has her own flat and has started a family, saying, “I would just like to thank Bev Saunders and her team for everything they have done for me and countless others.”
“Having that person to speak to in your darkest of hours really does make all the difference,” she added.
“If people had a clearer mind of what being homeless is like it would be a lot better.
“Not every person that is homeless is on drugs or alcohol.
“They’ve just fallen on hard times like so many of us have.”
Other organisations in Portsmouth are also preparing to help the vulnerable and homeless in the city.
St Margaret’s Community Church, on Highland Road in Southsea, started a food bank when the pandemic hit in March 2019.
Since opening, the food bank has fed over 13,000, with 2–3 day food and necessity packages for individuals, couples and families.
Fran Carabott, 51, a volunteer at St Margaret’s Church food bank, said: “It started on one shelf and people would come in when we were open on the Thursday and Friday, and people from the community would donate and people in need would take.”
By the third week of opening the food bank, the church was seeing 200 homeless and vulnerable people using their service.
“We are a non-referral food bank, so you don’t need to show any paperwork, we don’t ask any questions, people just come and we give two days worth of nutritious food and people donate for the community,” Fran said.
This Christmas St Margaret’s Church is giving out ‘Hampers of Hope’ to the vulnerable and homeless.
“Last year we did 85 with basically everything you need for Christmas day, turkey and veg,” Fran said.
“They’re wrapping up the boxes now and we deliver them to all the families in need, which this year is 150.”
The food bank has seen demand fall since Covid restrictions were relaxed earlier this year and now opens on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
“The need has slowed down, but it is still there,” Fran added.
“We are still feeding too many people.”
Paul Thwaites, 56, a volunteer and social worker, started helping at the food bank in April 2019.
Paul said that while the demand has plateaued “We now see about 20–25 people, which is manageable, but still 2 minutes a person,” as the food bank is only open to individuals and families for an hour.
Knowledge of the food bank has spread via word of mouth and social media throughout the pandemic.
“We are quite well known,” Paul said.
“There is a lot of services in Portsmouth, like homeless hostels and halfway houses and someone will come from there and pass the word to others.”
The food bank also caters to those who have dietary requirements, vegetarians and vegans.
Paul said: “Quite a few are homeless, there was a time we would give out tin openers to go with food.”
“There is no point in putting in things that need cooking, so we swap things.”
Paul estimated that under 10% of those using the service were homeless.
If you wish to get involved with Helping Hands you can visit their FaceBook page linked here.
Similarly, if you wish to donate or volunteer with St Margaret’s Church, visit them in Highland Road, Southsea, or email them at info@stmagscc.uk.
