Rise in working homeless visiting winter shelter

First published on: 3rd January 2019

Rise in working homeless visiting winter shelter

A vicar in Tunbridge Wells has spoken of the rising numbers of those in work, but who are homeless, visiting their winter night shelter.

Speaking to the Financial Time, the Revd Canon Jim Stewart from St James Tunbridge Wells said that they realised they needed to adapt their arrangements, such as changing their cut off time of 8.30pm, to accomodate those in work:

“Some of them clock up significant hours, which makes it all the more distressing that they get to the end of the day and they don’t have anywhere to call their own,” 

As in many areas across the Diocese, a group of churches in the town takes turns each night to provide homeless people with shelter throughout the Winter.

The FT quote that the number of people sleeping rough has doubled since 2010 across Tunbridge Wells and the neighbouring two local authorities, according to official numbers.

Read the full article here

Bishop James went on to raise the issue in the House of Lords, when he spoke in the chamber just before Christmas, calling the matter a 'scandal'

Contributing to an urgent debate on homelessness, he said:

"...some of the people who have died had jobs and were homeless yet in work. That seems to compound the scandal."

Read his full contribution here

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