In March 2020 when the 1st lockdown happened the Government announced their “Everyone In” scheme. Temporary accommodation had to be found for all rough sleepers and vulnerable homeless to give them a safe space so they could isolate during the pandemic.

Funding was given to local councils to see this scheme through. Funding was also made available to help rough sleepers secure their own tenancies going forward. ‘Rough sleeping’ was given much-needed help through funding to eliminate it as much as possible. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) have worked tirelessly to find permanent accommodation for those who need it most. Some in social housing and some private rentals and this is continuing.​

All of the people who were known to the council at the start of lockdown have been housed, either in emergency housing or in a longer-term home which is fantastic. Emergency housing is offered to people who are at risk of sleeping rough. Unfortunately, the demand for help will continue as more people lose their jobs or fall behind with their rent. At the moment landlords can’t evict tenants who can’t pay their rent but there will come a time when they can and many more people will lose their homes. The current eviction ban is due to end at the end of march. 

Challenges

As with everything there are obstacles:
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1. More voluntary support workers are needed. Once people have moved into their accommodation many need support with day to day living. Learning how to budget, setting up and understanding utility bills, sorting their benefits out and sometimes just a voice at the end of the phone. Life can be very lonely.
2. Household items: 
   a) Social housing does not have to provide a carpet to tenants. If there is no carpet then fuel bills will be higher. Single people are not entitled to a washing machine or a cooker if there are no children living at the property.
   b) Private rentals are usually empty of all furniture so even the basics are needed, a bed, fridge, table, chairs, lamps, cutlery and crockery etc.
3. Some people have previous rent arrears which prevent them from being able to rent again.
4. There is a lack of suitable housing that is available, whether it’s a room in a house, a studio, a one-bedroom flat or supported
   housing. The cost of a private rental is also a huge obstacle, a guarantor is needed unless the rent in advance can be paid, which is often not the case.

How are The Street Teams helping?

We are working with the Council’s housing team, along with other homeless organisations we focus on how to ensure individual people get the help they need.

Due to Covid we are unable to operate out of Crescent Road car park where we had been for over 20 years. When lockdown started we began to take the food to the people. We have been providing one hot meal a day to all of those in temporary accommodation, which has been made easy as everyone is in the same place. We will continue to do this all the time it is needed. We have our regular team of volunteers who provide the meals along with new people who wanted to help. One of those is Phil Clark who runs A la Clark Catering Meal Prep Eco Eating and he has set up a Go Fund Me page to help The Street Teams and Nourish Food Bank.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any storage facilities which makes it very hard to accept donations from people.
All electrical goods need to be PAT tested, any upholstered items, e.g. beds, sofas, etc need to still have the fire label attached. Through financial donations, we have been able to buy the items that are needed.

How can you help?

1. The easiest way is to make a donation via Paypal or through our Go Fund Me page. Using your donations, we can supply any
   furniture etc that is needed. 
2. Give some time and become a volunteer support worker. This way you will be in direct contact with those who need support via the telephone.
3. Donate items such as bedding, towels kitchen utensils.
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Please contact Vicki Stewart via email if you would like more information on any of the above at [email protected].

Who else is helping?

There are a lot of different organisations all helping in different ways. We all work together to help as many people as possible. This list is not definitive:

• Citizen Advice Bureau
• Emmaus
• KCC
• Look Ahead
• Nourish
• Pathways
• Porchlight
• The Soup Bowl

You may still see people begging on the streets, some saying there is no help on offer for them. This is NOT the case. Everyone is offered help, unfortunately, some people just don’t want help, others won’t engage at all which makes it extremely difficult to help them.

Donations

If you would like to donate in any way, we would be pleased to let you know what our current needs are.
​Items such as warm, clean clothing, sleeping bags, toiletries, dry food, tins of soup goods etc are generally in demand.