CARE SHELTER
ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017
RegisteredCare Scottish Shelter AnnualCharity Report 2016-2017 1 June 2017 No. SC003783
A CARE SHELTER POEM
The homeless man. Why is he homeless? Why doesn’t he get a job?
Well...
He had a good job; he had a beautiful wife, Depression hit him and destroyed his life. Drugs took control when he started drinking, Into a hole, he kept on sinking.
His wife left him, he was out in the cold, He lost everything when addiction took hold. Nowhere to turn, he was lost and alone, Out in the street, no wife, no home.
Nowhere to turn, no place to go, He thought he would die here, out in the snow. Don’t know what happened or where he went wrong, He had everything and now it’s all gone.
Life had no purpose, he could only think why. His only desire was to give up and die. He got down on his knees and began to pray, “Help me Jesus, show me the way.”
He heard someone calling from out of nowhere. “Come with me for shelter and care, Come with me for a meal and a bed, A place that is warm, where you can rest your head.”
Who are those people who showed him the light? Showed him some love and a bed for the night. Those are the people, who cared so much, Those are the people with the God-loving touch.
Who is the man that it all happened to? It’s one step away from happening to you. So don’t judge a man, who sleeps on the street, He just needs a help to get back on his feet.
God bless the Care Shelter that helped him so much, God bless those people with the God-loving touch.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 2 June 2017
CONTENTS
Executive Summary 4
6 Introduction, Aim, Operational context
Church and volunteer overview 7
12 Staffing
Nightly timetable 13
15 Partnership working
Attendance 22
31 Monitoring forms and analysis
43 Finance
Feedback and qualitative updates 45
Conclusion 49
51 Appendices
Appendix A: Care Shelter posters 1-5 51
56 Appendix B: Further comments
Photos - All images used with consent.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 3 June 2017
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This was the 21st winter that the Care Shelter operated in Edinburgh. It was another very successful season with an incredibly strong staff team, a huge effort from the churches and volunteer teams and the provision of 9,251 bed spaces. We are thankful to God for enabling us to support so many people in crisis.
Operational Context The Care Shelter was open every night of the week from 9 October 2016 - 23 April 2017, one week longer than the previous season. There were 45 bed spaces available for 146 nights and this increased to 60 spaces for 50 nights from 15 December until 2 February.
Church & Volunteer Overview Involved this season were 25 venues and over 1000 volunteers from 73 different catering teams; 67 churches and 6 non-church teams.
Staffing The staff team consisted of two team leaders, four full-time project workers and two part- time project workers. A part-time deputy manager was recruited to support the project for eight months.
Partnership Working Nine agencies visited the Care Shelter over the winter period providing medical services and various forms of housing support and advice. Many people linked in with these services and accessed help that they would not have accessed independently.
Attendance 706 individuals accessed the shelter during the 2016-17 season. An average of 48.8 people attended each night which resulted in 9,565 presentations. An average of 47 people stayed over per night.
Monitoring Forms & Analysis Gender: 16% female, 84% male. Age: The mean age was 39. Reason for homelessness: Relationship breakdown was again the main reason identified for homelessness, often coupled with another expressed reason. Eviction, no local connection, being labelled intentionally homeless and losing benefits are reasons that were on the increase. Length of time homeless: A growing proportion of those using the service had been homeless for less than a week. Most recent accommodation: 37% of people reported sleeping rough the previous night. There were small increases in the number of people who had stayed with family/friends or been in a B&B or hostel. Clients’ only alternative to Care Shelter that night: 95% said their only other option was sleeping out. Nationalities: The vast majority are British (72%).
Finance The total expenditure was £220,356 and the total restricted income £169,892. The difference in these figures of £50,464 was met through additional income streams such as Retail, Caring Christmas Trees, the Big Sleep Out and general fundraising.
Feedback and Qualitative Updates It is quite emotional to read the comments passed on to staff across the course of the season, for example: “Thank you for saving my life tonight, I could not handle sleeping outside.”
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 4 June 2017
Recommendations for 2017-18 1. Increase venue capacity: With help from the churches, have a concentration of larger venues for a longer period (three months from 1 December–28 February) allowing capacity for the coldest months to be increased to 60. 2. Improve digital forms: Make changes to the digital forms used to register people and to report each evening so as to make them more useful and easier to use.
3. Reduce waste: Source a greener alternative to polystyrene and plastic disposable tableware. Wash blankets more often to decrease the number that are thrown out.
Conclusion & Longer Term 1. Rough Sleeping levels continue to rise: The level of rough sleeping in Edinburgh is not abating; the number of presentations, bed spaces provided and unique individuals at the Care Shelter are all increasing. The broad reasons for this increase, combined with the complex set of factors that have individually resulted in rough sleeping are outlined in various ways throughout this report. 2. Our response must rise to meet increased levels: At Bethany we have a resolve that radical action is required to turn the tide. We work to prevent homelessness; we also provide homes and support for people to sustain meaningful lives; and crucially in this project we intervene in crisis to lift people out from the desperate existence of sleeping rough on the streets. In view of the current crisis of rough sleeping levels in Edinburgh, with no signs of reduction, we will be aiming to develop support for a longer term Care Shelter that operates potentially up to year round as a centre of Christian compassion and excellence, offering as it does already, overnight shelter, warmth, care, safety, dignified catered meals, advice & support, inter agency partnership, and on-site access to relevant services to support people out of homelessness. 3. We will work for change: We will continue to highlight to National and Local Government potential solutions to the crisis and will partner with the Church, Statutory and Voluntary agencies to reduce the number of people sleeping rough on our streets.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 5 June 2017
1 INTRODUCTION
From its beginning as a two week pilot project in 1996, the Care Shelter has grown to cover the coldest months. At the recommendation of this report last year, it was lengthened by a further week to 28 weeks. We offered the essential provision of a safe place to sleep and a hot meal in partnership with 72 different churches from around Edinburgh, the Lothians and surrounding areas. Individuals who would otherwise be sleeping rough were welcomed into a caring, safe environment where they were treated with dignity and love. “This place is so peaceful compared to some others I've been to.”
The purpose of this report is to give an account of the work carried out and, by considering some of the findings, recognise trends, patterns of use and need within the city. Throughout the operation of the Care Shelter an online monitoring form was used to help us to assess these trends and patterns.
This year has again been a busy season with the Care Shelter being full to capacity on a number of occasions. Despite this, a great sense of peace has characterised the season; the quietness and peacefulness in a hall with 45 people in it, with still 20 minutes until lights out has been quite remarkable. “It's great that you guys (staff) have made the service users feel so comfortable they can fall asleep even before lights are out.” Comment from a volunteer.
2 AIM
Through showing Christian love in action the Edinburgh Care Shelter aims to provide a warm, safe and secure overnight place to sleep for those who would otherwise be rough sleeping; to offer hot nutritious meals and beverages; to provide high quality advice, guidance and signposting; and to treat each person with genuine care, respect and dignity. These four service aims are underpinned by an overall objective to provide opportunity of access to a wide range of partner agencies on site, thereby assisting individuals to gain more appropriate accommodation and improved personal outcomes.
3 OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
People who access the Care Shelter have nowhere else to turn. Often they have exhausted other options—friends, family or hostels—or did not have these as options to begin with. As a result, there is a high level of vulnerability and risk associated with many of our guests. This can be seen in the levels of addiction and mental health disorders.
People who use the service are asked to give their name upon entry but even if a false name is offered, they will still be able to gain access. This low level of accountability can also attract people who have been excluded, or feel unable to access other homelessness services. There is no stereotype however, and people from all walks of life make use of the service at that point of crisis in their housing situation.
The Care Shelter was open every night of the week from 9 October 2016 - 23 April 2017, one week longer than the previous season. There were 45 bed spaces available each night and this increased to 60 for a seven week period from 15 December until 2 February.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 6 June 2017
4 CHURCH AND VOLUNTEER OVERVIEW
Overall this year we were welcomed by 25 different venues around the city centre. They hosted the Care Shelter each evening on a rota basis (see appendices for posters produced showing the locations).
We’re incredibly grateful to all the churches that offer their buildings for use by the Care Shelter, whether for just one night or many. One of the most inspiring things about the Care Shelter is that so many different groups and churches come together with the shared goal of serving rough sleepers in Edinburgh and showing genuine love to those who need it. Congregations are mobilised in unity around this one purpose, laying aside theological or traditional differences.
Churches are very busy at Christmas so we were very grateful to be able to use The Crags Centre in Bowmont Place as a venue for the first time this season. It is a community run sports facility and hosted the Shelter over Christmas and New Year, a great provision.
There were 72 different catering teams involved, of which 17 also provided a venue. Churches that are not located in central Edinburgh are able to be involved as catering teams, coming from as far as Falkirk and North Berwick. There were seven staff from within Bethany Christian Trust. The provision of the food and the effort made by the volunteer teams to cook delicious two course meals is such a blessing and an incredible part of the service.
“So, you give up your time to come here to help us! Amazing!”
In the table below all teams are listed, showing whether they were a venue and/or a catering team.
Barclay Viewforth Church Venue and Catering Bellevue Chapel Venue and Catering Central Hall, Tollcross Venue and Catering Charlotte Chapel Venue and Catering Church of the Sacred Heart Venue and Catering Community Church Edinburgh Venue and Catering Destiny Church Venue and Catering Gorgie Dalry Stenhouse Church Venue and Catering Greenside Parish Venue and Catering Kings Church, Viewforth Venue and Catering Leith St Andrew’s Church Venue and Catering Polwarth Parish Church Venue and Catering St Columba's by the Castle Venue and Catering St Columba's Free Church Venue and Catering St Cuthbert’s Parish Church Venue and Catering St Michael’s Parish Church Venue and Catering St Peter's, Lutton Place Venue and Catering Carrubbers Christian Centre Venue Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 7 June 2017
Crags Centre Venue Davidson's Mains Parish Church Venue London Road Kirk Venue Old St Paul’s Venue South Leith Baptist Church Venue Willowbrae Church Venue YMCA Edinburgh Venue Abbey Church, North Berwick Catering All Nations Christian Fellowship Catering Amy’s Team Catering Bethany Fundraising Catering Bethany Visiting Support Catering C3 Edinburgh Catering Canongate Kirk Catering Castle Rock Edinvar Catering Chalmers Church Catering Christ Church, Morningside Catering City Gates Baptist Church Catering City of Edinburgh Methodist Church Catering Craiglockhart Church Catering Currie Kirk Catering Dalkeith Full Gospel Church Catering Davidson's Mains Parish Church Catering Dedridge Baptist Church Catering Duke St United Reformed Church Catering Elcho Place Hall Catering Falkirk Free Church Catering Grace Church Catering Granton Parish Church Catering Greenbank Parish Church Catering Hope! Church Catering Juniper Green Parish Church Catering Kings Church, Viewforth Catering Kirk of Calder Catering Kirkliston Community Church Catering Larbert Pentecostal Church Catering Liberton Kirk Catering Liberton Northfield Parish Church Catering Livingston Free Church Catering Longniddry Parish Church Catering Maclay Murray & Spens Catering
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 8 June 2017
Maddiston Evangelical Church Catering Morningside Parish Church Catering Musselburgh Baptist Church Catering Musselburgh Congregational Church Catering Musselburgh Northesk Catering North Leith Parish Church Catering Palmerston Place Church Catering Portobello and Joppa Parish Catering Prestongrange Parish Church Catering Ruth's Team Catering St Andrew's & George's West Church Catering St Giles Neighbourhood Group Catering St John the Evangelist Catering St John's and St Mary Magdalene Catering St John's Linlithgow Catering St Margaret's Church Catering St Mark's, Portobello Catering St Michael's Parish Church, Inveresk Catering St Michaels, Linlithgow Catering St Mungo's, Balerno Catering St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church Catering St Peter's, Musselburgh Catering
“I was quite afraid about tonight but it's been amazing. I'll definitely do this again.” First-time volunteer
Induction was offered to all volunteers and covered a variety of topics, e.g. boundaries, confidentiality and food hygiene. Each night, at the start of the evening, there was a briefing delivered by the staff. This covered the fire safety of that particular building, as well as recapping some of the more important topics covered in induction. A short devotion and open time of prayer then followed.
Donations of clothing were often brought by the catering church. This would include warm clothes collected from the congregations and often new underwear and socks etc. These donations are very well received and make a big difference to the people who use the service.
"Ahhh! Thank you God for the food!"
On hearing what was for dinner that night.
“That's the best fish and chips I've had in years.”
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 9 June 2017
The map below shows the approximate positioning of the 25 church venues as well as the average attendance in each venue. It can be observed that there are three main groupings of churches: A large group around the city centre; a group to the South and West – these are mainly the larger venues; then a smaller group around the bottom of Leith Walk.
The attendance figures are generally influenced by venue location, size or capacity. As a general rule, the closer to the town centre, the higher the attendance. Where this is not the case it is due to the size of the hall. If there is a smaller hall, then numbers are lower suggesting some are put off from coming by the intensity a small hall can generate. When capacity was at 60 the more accessible larger venues, on the whole, filled up more than those further afield.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 10 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 11 June 2017
5 STAFFING
Last year’s report recommended increasing the staffing of the Care Shelter in response to higher levels of presentations, the increased duration of the Shelter and to develop the service. As a result, two new fixed-term part-time project worker roles were and a part-time deputy manager role were created.
Two team leaders were recruited, both of whom had worked in the Shelter previously as project workers, and four full-time project workers of whom two had previous experience in the Shelter. Three waking staff were on shift at a time (a team leader and two project workers) from 8pm till 8am, working seven nights on and seven off. Additionally, a fourth member of staff worked from 8pm till midnight. Two part-time project workers were recruited for these roles and due to one securing permanent full time work elsewhere, a number of pool staff helped to cover these shifts. A deputy manager was recruited to work 17.5 hours a week from 12 September 2016 until 12 May 2017. The deputy covered seven weeks of on-call duty and assisted the manager to support the staff and run the project. This eased the pressure on the project manager.
All in all, the 2016-17 staff team had 16 years of Care Shelter experience between them. This was a considerable advantage and allowed the team to hit the ground running at the start of the season. The team also bonded very well, and unified with a single purpose of serving others, they proved very effective in their work and supportive of one another.
“This place is brilliant so it is! You are all so nice, the humanity you show is amazing.
You recognise that we are all people; homeless, but people.
I couldn't do your job. I couldn't show forgiveness the way you do.”
“You are loving people like Jesus did.”
The Team Leaders received an initial three day induction, followed by a five day induction for the whole staff team. This included the following topics: ethos; culture; building environment; policies and procedures; rules; team dynamics; food hygiene; health and safety; vision; standards; overview of Operations; local agency awareness; boundaries and behaviour management; restraint training; first aid and body spillage; administering Naloxone; mental health and addictions. Through this time the team came to commit to one another for the task that lay ahead.
“Coming here has helped me see that there are people who care and that there is a better way.”
There was constant on call cover from management and the project manager and deputy manager were in attendance at the Shelter regularly. In March 2017 the manager was promoted to a new role within the organisation and the deputy manager was in turn promoted to the role of manager for the remainder of the season. A deputy manager was then recruited from within the staff team.
“You guys make me want to help others.”
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 12 June 2017
6 NIGHTLY TIMETABLE
6.00pm The volunteer catering team of around seven volunteers had access to the venue from 6pm onwards each night, coordinated through a contact at the venue. They then prepared a two course meal onsite with the help of a menu suggestion rota. Preparing the food onsite removes the risks associated with the transit of hot foodstuffs and is in accordance with food hygiene legislation. 8.00pm Full-time staff start their shift at Bethany House, where they collect any supplies needed, along with the minibus. 8.00pm Part-time project worker arrives at the venue, greets the volunteer team and starts to take names at the door. 8.15pm Set-up of the hall with an area for the meal to be served and sleeping area for the coming guests. 8.45pm Briefing and devotions—staff and volunteers. 9.15pm Two trips in the minibus to Waterloo Place to pick-up people who want to and access the Care Shelter. The majority make their way on foot and often there 9.30pm is only one minibus journey or none if the Shelter is already full. 9.30pm Doors open (often earlier), people are welcomed and have their names and dates of birth recorded. The meal is served and people started getting into their sleeping areas. Any donations of clothing are laid out for people to look through and take what they need. 10.30pm Food service finishes. 11.00pm Lights out. 11.30pm Having cleared up, the volunteers leave before 11.30pm. Midnight Part-time project worker leaves. The staff then rotate responsibilities between watching the hall, providing security at the door, checking the toilets and also each having a 45 minute break. 6.30am Self-service breakfast of toast and cereal set out for the lights coming on again. 7.00am All guests leave. The venue is then cleaned and the minibus loaded. 8.00am Bethany team leave the venue to return to Bethany House.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 13 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 14 June 2017
7 PARTNERSHIP WORKING
This season saw nine agencies visit the Care Shelter and offer a wide variety of services to the people who were staying there. Partnership working is vital to the Care Shelter; allowing us to offer a greater level of care and a larger spectrum of advice. Fewer barriers to accessing the Care Shelter than there are often perceived to be with other services mean that individuals who are not linked in with other services will attend the Care Shelter. A good example of this is the number of people that the nurses and GPs came across who were not registered with a GP but through contact with these visiting medical professionals at the Care Shelter, went on to register with the Edinburgh Access Practice. Therefore people are receiving more help and accessing more services through being at the Care Shelter even although these services are available to them elsewhere.
7.1 Timetable
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
Morning Streetwork Streetwork Streetwork
EHAP or EAP nurse Shelter GP & Evening Visiting & CPN Scotland Crisis Support
In addition to the services included in the timetable above, City of Edinburgh Council housing officers attended the Care Shelter on a number of occasions but unfortunately this wasn’t able to be sustained. The aim was to provide advice to people as to whether they would be entitled to accommodation and to signpost them to The Access Point for a homeless assessment if applicable.
A partnership was also explored with Home Office immigration officers who were keen to try an approach, other than enforcement, to reach anyone who voluntarily wanted to return to their native country. However, the presence of immigration officers at the Care Shelter seemed likely to be more detrimental than helpful as it risked undermining trust that had been built up with individuals and creating a barrier to people accessing the shelter. Therefore this partnership was not pursued.
A staff member from Bethany Christian Centre also made a visit to the Care Shelter, one evening in the week before it closed for the season. Bethany Christian Centre is a 17 bed recovery unit for men with addictions and has proved a great next step for some people to move on to from the shelter. Care Shelter staff constantly encourage people to consider various recovery options and a number of referrals were made to Bethany Christian Centre over the course of the winter. At least seven people were offered places following interview and at least five moved into the centre following referral from the Care Shelter during the winter season.
7.2 Streetwork
A team of two members of staff visited three times a week throughout the season (not over the Christmas/ New Year period). Staff took it in turns based on the rota pattern. Streetwork attended for 30 minutes in the morning when the service users were having breakfast. They offered signposting and advice, specifically focussing on new rough sleepers but also using the opportunity to check-in with some of the more long-term rough sleepers who do not often engage with building-based services.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 15 June 2017
Streetwork had 513 contacts across the season. This equates to 194 known individuals (who are registered with Streetwork) and approximately 43 unknown individuals (who were met at the shelter but are not registered with Streetwork). Of the 194 known individuals, 30 were met for the first time at the Care Shelter and the remainder were already known to Streetwork.
Signposting and advice on the following subjects was given: Housing/accommodation Signposting to health services – both mental and physical Income/benefits advice Signposting to specialist agencies – addiction support, employability Advice specific to migrants
People were referred to the following services: Health – Edinburgh Access Practice, including GP drop-in at the Crisis Centre 22 in total (all to EAP or the GP outreach service) 19 successful
Other – The Access Point social work 1 in total
Housing – Housing Options Team, The Access Point & local offices in other local authority areas 73 in total Successful – 33 Unsuccessful – 39
The main reasons for unsuccessful housing referrals were:
Did not attend 27
No local connection 1 No vacancies 5
No suitable vacancies 1 Migrant not economically active 2
Open case to another local authority 1 Not homeless 1
Case Studies:
CC was met at the Care Shelter. CC was new to Edinburgh and had come to look for work. CC was signposted back to the Crisis Centre for more support. CC did not think he would be eligible for any support but it transpired that he had been in the UK for 3 months, making him eligible for welfare benefits and homeless assistance. CC was advised to make a JSA claim and was then referred to TAP. CC was booked into temporary accommodation once proof of his JSA claim came through. CC was also referred to EAP to register with a GP and was also linked in with Crisis Skylight for employability support. CC spent 10 days using the Care Shelter.
WS was met at the Care Shelter. He had not been to Streetwork before, having just arrived in Edinburgh from Perth. He had been working in Perth but had lost his job and his ID documents. WS was given advice on his options and decided he wanted to return to Poland. Staff contacted the Polish Consulate and arranged voluntary repatriation for him. WS emailed to let us know he had returned to his family home in Poland.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 16 June 2017
7.3 Edinburgh Access Practice Nurses
Two EAP nurses (a practice nurse and a community mental health nurse) attended the Care Shelter weekly, on a Monday night.
New people Went on to register Went on to register Time period seen with EAP elsewhere November & December 28 14 1
January & February 12 11 March & April 15 5 Total for the season 55 30 1
Clinical and presenting problems: Substance misuse; PWID; skin conditions (various); collapse; pseudo-seizures; self-inflicted wounds; accidental wounds; backache; sore throats; tooth ache; insect bites including scabies; asthma; cold sores and mouth infections; nausea; headache; chest pain; muscle pain; swollen knees; sore feet; ear ache; eye irritations; post-hospital discharge with wounds; medicines enquiries; appointment enquiries; Edinburgh Leisure card requests.
Mental health and mood presentations: Depression; anger; sadness; euphoria; schizophrenia; delusions; ADHD; autism (new diagnosis by EAP Outreach CPN in one case); substance misuse effects; anger management; auditory/visual illusions; psychosis; fixations; anxiety state; Borderline Personality Disorder; loneliness; isolation; social phobia; self-harming behaviours (various); suicidal thoughts; low self esteem; reckless/ high risk behaviours.
Case studies:
Female, diabetic, autistic spectrum disorder, personality disorder > link in with GP at Streetwork and nurses at the Care Shelter. Self-harm, successfully engaged to register at EAP as patient after having self-harm wound care at the shelter. Subsequently not attended, though aware of services and how to access. Patient appreciated chance to talk to health staff at the shelter and reflect on her poor engagement with her psychiatrist, psychologist and social worker.
Both EAP nurses also spent time with a patient with Aspergers who was using the shelters for a few weeks. He had tried to register at EAP but had found the process too difficult, and had in fact put in a formal complaint about the practice. Through spending time with him at the Care Shelter we were able to liaise with practice staff and make arrangements that suited him for attending the practice. He saw a GP who he got on well with and was very pleased with the outcome.
7.4 GPs
Two GPs attended the Care Shelter on a voluntary basis. This report is based on one of their experiences, visiting the shelter about 22 times over the season and seeing between one and nine people on each occasion. (Numbers approximated). GP had contact with 52 different people making use of the Care Shelter and had approximately 101 interactions overall. About 60% of the time the outcome of these conversations was signposting people to local services - predominantly EAP services. About 40% of the time these interactions were about building a positive relationship with the person. There were 10 people about whom the GP liaised specifically
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 17 June 2017
with the EAP outreach team - including referring on for follow up. GP performed a clinical examination on five people - for mental health or physical health problems.
Case studies: Because the GP did not work in the Edinburgh Access Practice it was difficult to know the outcome of many of the interactions, however the following encouraging observations were made:
One individual’s mental health improved dramatically during the period he was staying regularly in the shelter despite him not accessing medical care.
It was amazing to hear of one person getting a passport and some accommodation with Crisis's support. Having known him the best part of three years the GP couldn't originally see how he was going to move on.
One lady who has used the Shelter for a couple of years continues to engage with her supports and is slowly moving towards getting benefits and seeking work.
A man with significant physical and mental health vulnerabilities found a safe place to stay at the Care Shelter over the winter months.
7.5 Edinburgh Housing Advice Partnership
EHAP saw a total of 37 different clients throughout the duration of their time in the shelter. EHAP’s presence at the shelter was on a fortnightly basis due to restrictions with EHAP’s staffing resource, but they were positive about the impact they had on informing people of their rights under the homelessness legislation and encouraging clients to challenge decisions by CEC who had found them to be intentionally homeless. This year EHAP had a member of their housing support team accompany the advisor. They are able to offer the Date Clients engaged with services of their 1.11.16 2 welfare rights service 15.11.16 2 drop-in, employability service, and housing 29.11.16 5 advice and support. 13.12.16 2 10.1.17 5 EHAP had a couple of very successful cases where they encouraged the client to make 24.1.17 3 homeless presentations as it was not clear 7.2.17 3 that they had been assessed as homeless 21.2.17 6 correctly by the council. In one instance, the 7.3.17 2 client had presented the next day and was found not to be intentionally homeless. One of 21.3.17 2 the barriers experienced is that many people 4.4.17 2 in the shelter might not have access to a 18.4.17 3 mobile, so it was difficult for EHAP to follow up see if they needed further assistance. Total 37
One issue that was raised with EHAP related to the link between employment and housing for some clients. Due to the increased number of cases that EHAP dealt with who presented with employment issues, they are planning next season to have appointments available for the next day with their employability advisor. If EHAP can offer appointments the next day then hopefully individuals will follow through with this and continue momentum. EHAP also operate a welfare advice drop-in session on a Wednesday morning at CHAI.
Many people EHAP spoke with at the Care Shelter were immigrants who were unsure of their status in the UK and, in some cases, we could find a route into establishing this.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 18 June 2017
7.6 Bethany Visiting Support
Bethany Visiting Support is the lead partner of the Gateway consortium of housing support providers. Workers attended the Shelter to offer a period of support to people with housing issues. This process of meeting in the shelter, arranging an assessment for the next day and then allocating the person to a worker has proved successful previously, however, this time the success of the referrals was low due to various barriers. One such possible reason was the Visiting Support team being based in Leith which is not the most central location for a follow-up meeting the next day. Also people’s often chaotic lifestyles mean people are less able to keep a follow-up appointment or indeed attend subsequent support meetings.
In the Gateway consortium there are a number of housing drop-ins which will be promoted in the service next season.
7.7 Shelter Scotland
A lawyer from Shelter attended in the last four weeks of the Care shelter: 29 March - 19 April. It was not noted exactly how many people the lawyer spoke with as not every person spoke with needed or wanted legal advice. The lawyer did however speak with at least 14 individuals. From the four evenings attended, Shelter Scotland assisted three individuals to access homeless services and obtain temporary accommodation. In one case, the person had been advised that there was nothing available for them; in another that they had no local connection to the area and in the third, that there had been no material change in circumstances since last application. In all three of those cases, the lawyer’s view was that the council’s decision was unlawful. In all three cases the council confirmed that the clients would be accommodated. Unfortunately the lawyer lost contact with one of those individuals and the council advised that he did not present again, despite their willingness to provide temporary accommodation off the back of Shelter’s intervention.
7.8 Crisis Skylight
Crisis attended the Care Shelter every Thursday night for the whole season. During this time two team members from Crisis attended and on average spoke with 10 - 12 people per night. In total Crisis Skylight picked up 48 referrals into their service, many of whom are still engaged with support. They supported 22 people into accommodation directly from the Care Shelter; this was on the whole temporary accommodation such as B&Bs.
Case Studies
Mr B was introduced to Crisis at the Care Shelter in November by a friend who translated some of the conversation for them as English was not his first language. An appointment was made for Mr B to meet with a progression coach the next morning. Mr B attended this appointment, and he was accompanied to the job centre where a claim was set up to claim Jobseekers allowance. Once this was completed, Crisis attended the housing options team where Mr B was provided with temporary accommodation. In the next week, Mr B continued to engage with Crisis, and he was assisted in setting up a bank account in order to receive his benefits. An appointment was scheduled for the clothing bank and Mr B was accompanied by the progression coach where he was provided with clothes. During this time, Mr B had started to link in with employment agencies, and was soon offered a temporary job. Crisis assisted in purchasing the
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 19 June 2017
necessary items of clothing for this that included a high visibility vest, work boots, and hard hat. Mr B continued to engage with them throughout this period as the work was often sporadic. He linked in with their work and learning coach who assisted in setting up an Independent Learning Allowance as he had expressed an interest in possibly going for a Construction Skills Certificate Team Scheme. Mr B was offered a more stable job in a factory setting. Since obtaining employment and accommodation, Mr B has not reported that he has required Crisis’ service, and is currently still in his employment and accommodation.
Sally (not her real name) has used the Care Shelter for 3 winters and was first noticed by Crisis in 2015 but she would not engage with any of the Crisis team the first time they attended the Care Shelter. Sally would not make eye contact and would stay in the corner. This winter 2016-2017 she started to acknowledge the Crisis team members as she had been to one of the Crisis classes and the relationship built from there. She attended a couple of events but was still very wary. Crisis continued to try and engage Sally at her pace and in a way that suited her.
One night at the shelter there was a bit of a break through and Sally agreed to meet with one of the coaches to apply for benefits. This was followed through and then Crisis attended the job centre with her on her first appointment where the Habitual Residency Test took place. Sally is now in temporary accommodation as she was supported by to go to Parliament square as she would not go on her own. Sally has a bank account, has passed the HRT test and is volunteering through a placement arranged by the job centre to build on her CV. Sally is attending Crisis classes and 1-2-1 coaching and is progressing really well and hopes to find employment really soon. Crisis will continue to support Sally through this time.
7.9 Police
The police successfully brought 101 people to the Care Shelter across the season. Often they tried to bring others who were unable to be accommodated due to the shelter already being at capacity.
Month Total
October 15 November 15
December 14
January 19 February 6
March 18 April 14
Total 101
This table shows the number of people dropped off by the police per month. The highest number was 19 people in January 2017, a month when the shelter had increased capacity and was only full on six nights. This contrasts sharply to February when only six people were successfully dropped off by the police. The shelter was full on 23 nights in February following capacity returning to 45 on the 3rd of the month. Two of the six people that the police dropped off were on the first two nights when the capacity was at 60 and the shelter wasn’t full. The police are asked to phone ahead when dropping people off to make sure the service is appropriate for the individual and also to check for a bed space.
Although the police were in regular attendance to drop people off and check for missing persons, they were also relied upon to attend in the rare event of an escalating situation.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 20 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 21 June 2017
8 ATTENDANCE
The average attendance was 49 (48.8), with a high of 68 on one night.
The numbers represent a further increase on previous years. Despite starting the shelter on 10 October, a week earlier than last year, we reached our capacity of 45 within seven days, and demand continued to increase steadily throughout October with 58 people trying to access the service on more than one occasion. On 15 December capacity increased to 60 for seven weeks allowing us to better meet the demand.
Available capacity has been increased by 40% from 35 per night ,four years ago, to 48.8 on average this season (taking into account the nights at 45 and the nights at 60 capacity). Even with this huge increase, the numbers of people presenting show the need for the Care Shelter is beyond our current capacity.
The period of 60 capacity made a big difference and we will be seeking to extend this with the help from the churches. In real terms, increasing the capacity from 45 to 60 means that on any night people were 25 times more likely to be able to be accommodated.
The capacity increase did have the desired effects of accommodating more people and of reducing the numbers turned away, we just need to find ways of maximising the period covered.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 22 June 2017
8.1 Total number of presentations
This graph shows the increase in number of presentations this year. Total Number of Presentations
2012 -13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
9072 9565
6552 5852 4116
2012 -13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
The trend of presentations continues to rise, even from the huge numbers of the previous season. Numbers have now increased by 132% since 2012-13 season.
The relatively small increase on last year hides the fact that many people simply did not attend the Shelter, particularly in the months of February and March, knowing that if they arrived after the opening time of 9.30pm they were unlikely to gain entry. Throughout the season, queues were often reported from 6pm onwards, regularly reaching 30 or more by the time staff arrived at 8pm. This frequently meant that the minibus which collects from a central point each night was unable to go out as we were already at capacity. Where possible we still collected people to offer them a meal. It is worth noting that the number of people remaining at the pick-up location without shelter is not included in our figures.
It reached the point where most people made their own way to the venue to ensure they could get in. Even on the last night of the shelter, at Davidson’s Mains, the venue which is furthest from the centre of town, there was only one person who took the minibus. It is normal to make at least two trips when at that venue. When asked, folks simply said, “I walked. I wanted to make sure I got in.”
All of this indicates that the true level of demand would be considerably higher than is portrayed by the figures above. Interestingly, the average number of presentations this season was 48.8, exactly matching the average capacity.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 23 June 2017
Presentations by temperature variance
60.0
50.0
40.0
30.0
20.0
10.0 0.0
Presentations Number of nights at this temperature
Trend of Presentations against temperature
Numbers presenting trended upwards on colder nights. The winter was milder than it might have been but 24% of nights were still 0o Celsius or below.
Presentation numbers did vary slightly by night of the week. Tuesday and Thursday were the busiest nights and Friday the quietest. Interestingly, numbers turned away were five times higher on a Tuesday than a Sunday. There could be various factors at play here, including the fact that the city centre is busier at weekends and so those begging are more likely to stay out. Others may have used whatever income they had to pay for a hostel.
The good news is that half as many people were turned away this season in comparison with last, however, despite our best efforts, on average, more than 1.6 people were turned away each night. Where a bed could not be provided, sleeping bags were offered. An appeal saw volunteers, churches and corporate contacts donate over 200 sleeping bags for this purpose. These made a huge difference to those who could not get in. All were offered far more than just being told there was no room; signposting, offering to call Out of Hours, sleeping bags, food, survival bags, clothes and a warm and friendly response.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 24 June 2017
8.2 Number of individuals
The sustained demand for the Care Shelter continued to make it hard for people to gain access. As has already been mentioned, the period of increased capacity eased this situation somewhat. However, the build-up of numbers during that time shows the level of demand.
This winter 691 individuals gained access to the shelter, up from 640 the year before. Based on the number of occasions people were not accommodated and the average length of stay we have used a very conservative figure of an additional 15 unique individuals not accommodated to give an estimated total of 706 for the year. There were 305 instances of a person being turned away however we cannot tell how many unique individuals this constitutes or whether they returned to the shelter on a subsequent night.
When capacity was 60, an average of 1.5 people presenting for the first time per night were able to gain access after 10 p.m. each night. When capacity reduced to 45 this average reduced to 0.8 people per night. Assuming that the same number of people were trying to access the shelter during this later period, this means that an average of 0.7 people per night who were looking to use the Shelter for the first time were not able to gain access. This equates to 56 people. Some may have gained access on a subsequent night but based on the fact that 39% of people using the service stayed only one night it is reasonable to assume that 22 people did not attempt to access the Care Shelter again.
This estimate for the period of reduced capacity from 3 February till 23 April shows that the true number of individuals contained within the 305 instances when someone was turned away is likely to be much in excess of our highly conservative estimate of 15.
There were only nine nights where we did not have someone who was there for the first time. The fact that it was somewhat easier for people to gain access this season compared to the 2015-16 season due to the period of increased capacity can be seen in the number of new individuals accessing the service. By comparing the last three seasons it is possible to see that there were 531 individuals unique to the 2016-17 season in comparison to 461 in 2015-16.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 25 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 26 June 2017
8.3 Care Shelter beds provided
This table shows the number of beds provided per night based on the average number of people staying over per year:
Year Duration Average stayed over per night Winter beds provided 1996-1997 2 week pilot 15 210 1997-1998 12 weeks 25 2100 1998-1999 12 weeks 25 2100 1999-2000 12 weeks 25 2100 2000-2001 12 weeks 27 2268 2001-2002 12 weeks 24 2046 2002-2003 12 weeks 25 2150 2003-2004 12 weeks 23 1963 2004-2005 22 weeks 24 3669 2005-2006 22 weeks 23 3341 2006-2007 22 weeks 26 3975 2007-2008 22 weeks 25 3825 2008-2009 22 weeks 28 4312 2009-2010 22 weeks 36 5636 2010-2011 22 weeks 38 5915 2011-2012 20 weeks 28 3920 2012-2013 21 weeks 28 4112 2013-2014 22 weeks 37 5698
2014-2015 24 weeks 36 6048
2015-2016 27 weeks 45 8637
2016-2017 28 weeks 47 9251
83276 NB numbers estimated for the first four years as no verifiable data available.
The impact of the Care Shelter has been massive over the 21 years it has been running, with over 83,000 bed spaces provided; almost 30,000 in the last four years alone.
The provision has increased by more than 50% from only two years before and, as is evidenced by the number of people being turned away, this is still not enough.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 27 June 2017
8.4 How many nights did people stay?
The recent trend of people staying longer at the Care Shelter has continued with 3.6% of people staying for more than half the season, up from 2.5% in 2015-16. However, due to the increased provision and capacity, the percentage of those staying for only one night also increased this season in comparison to the 2015-16 season. This leads to a small increase across the board in people staying for up to 31 nights across the season. These percentages are still much smaller than the 2014-15 season when 94% of people using the shelter stayed for less than 31 nights, compared with 89% this season. This shows the trend of people being homeless for longer and being more dependant on the shelter than ever before.
Number of Nights/ More than half Percentage of Individuals 1 7 or less 14 or less 31 or less the season 2014-15 49% 80% 87% 94% 1% 2015-16 32% 68% 78% 88% 2.50% 2016-17 39% 73% 82% 89% 3.60%
First-time, short-term guests were more likely to be able to obtain access this season than last. This is evidenced by the increase in the number of people dropped-off by the police which is up by 28%. These drop-offs frequently happened after 11pm when there was a good chance that the shelter would already be at capacity. The fact that there were 101 successful drop-offs by the police show that it was easier to gain access this season in comparison to last when there were only 79.
The number of cases referred to the Care Shelter by the Council seemed much higher this year than any previously. This applied both to those who had attended the Access Point during the day and those who had called the Out of Hours service. On many occasions, people who were using the Care Shelter for the first time reported having been told by the council that there was no accommodation available for them so they should use the shelter that night and return to the council offices the following day. This was often repeated for several nights, even for those with a local connection. Those who were told that they had no entitlement to accommodation, frequently became the long-staying regulars at the shelter. A lawyer from Shelter Scotland began attending the Care Shelter for the last few weeks of the season primarily to offer advice and legal support to anyone who had been given misinformation regarding the Council’s duty to house them. See page 19 for more information on Shelter Scotland’s work in the Care Shelter.
The strain on council temporary accommodation was very obvious this season with far more people being sent to the Care Shelter by the council than we were able to get into temporary accommodation through contacting Out of Hours. This trend was particularly worrying when Winter Contingency was in operation, a provision whereby anyone who was not able to get into the Care Shelter should have been accommodated through the Out of Hours service when the Met Office “feels like” temperature was below 0° Celsius. Unfortunately, for the second winter running, Winter Contingency seemed to have little or no effect in opening more beds to the people we support.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 28 June 2017
8.5 Who came back?
One myth that surrounds rough sleepers is that they are an entrenched, static population, however when you look at the actual figures this is shown to be entirely false in Edinburgh. Over the last three seasons a total of 1845 individuals have used the shelter, with around 500 to 600 new people each year.
The chart below shows the percentage of those coming back, with 9.5% accessing the service in two different seasons and 2% (the centre section) using it in all three seasons.
3% 2014-15 2015-16
2% 2% 4.5%
2016-17
The 2% (35 people) who have come all three years stayed an average of 28 nights this season, with 51% of them staying seven nights or less. This raises the question of where these individuals are staying the rest of the time as they are not residing at the shelter for full seasons; they dip in and out across a number of seasons. The struggles and underlying issues associated with rough sleeping and the accompanying chaotic lifestyle mean that the pathways in and out of homelessness are far from linear. Individuals often experience short periods of rough sleeping, and need of the shelter, on and off over a period of time. The Care Shelter is there for everyone who needs it and we seek to have a low threshold for access. This is particularly important as those who are experiencing the most chaotic times are often the individuals who have had the most support removed having perhaps been barred from other services for issues such as time-keeping and behaviour.
The increase in the percentage of those returning from a previous season further illustrates the fact that people are homeless for longer.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 29 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 30 June 2017
9 MONITORING FORMS AND ANALYSIS
On entry to the Care Shelter, names were taken electronically on a tablet. At this point, if someone was new to the services they were asked to complete a few further questions from our monitoring form. There was no obligation to answer any of the questions. The detail provided in this section is based on the 90%+ who did respond.
The information allows us to have a more comprehensive understanding of those who are accessing the service to inform future developments.
9.1 Gender
This split is consistent with previous years and also other rough sleeping services. If a family or couple break-up it is often culturally viewed as the man’s responsibility to leave the home. Women have also been shown to have larger networks of friends and family to fall back on. The increased vulnerabilities women experience on the streets may also be a huge determining factor in these statistics.
Average Nights Stayed
15.0
10.0 Male
Female 5.0
0.0 Male Female
The average stay for a man was 14 nights while for a woman it was 10. The contrast is even more stark when you consider that 6 of the women accounted for 64% of the nights and stayed an average of 122 nights each. The remaining 105 women stayed on average less than 4 nights each.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 31 June 2017
9.2 Age
Ages
Number in each grouping 128 121
87 96 50 72 22 47 27 16 7 4
The average age was 39 which was very similar to previous years. The youngest person was 17 years old and the oldest 76. In total, 11 were over 65. and 72 were 25 or under, A closer look at this youngest population reveals a higher proportion of females at 26.4% and an average length of stay of 6 nights.
"This is a good place. Good people. Good food. Believe me, I know."
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 32 June 2017
9.3 Reason for homelessness
On their first night at the shelter everyone was asked about their reason for being homeless. They could choose more than one reason so the chart reflects the total number of times each of the options were mentioned.
As in previous years, relationship breakdown was the main reason given for being homeless. Often people would select relationship breakdown plus another. The strain caused by the issues in people’s lives on relationships is enormous but it is often only when these relationships eventually break that people end up on the street. Frequently, as a result of this, individuals who used the Shelter had suffered a lot of rejection, broken relationships and burnt bridges prior to coming to the service. This has a devastating effect on self-worth and outlook. It is in these very situations, we believe, that God seeks to bless people and it was the staff’s immense privilege to work in such circumstances.
The incidences where drug addiction was reported as a reason for homelessness continued to reduce. This has been one of the biggest changes over the last two seasons and one of the biggest reasons to be thankful. As documented in last year’s report the reduction in the use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), often referred to as legal highs, has been a major plus. NPS still pose a huge risk; there are concerns that the popularity of Spice, a synthetic cannabis substitute, in other cities in the UK such as Manchester may spread to Edinburgh. As this report is written it looks likely that Spice will be linked with a recent death in a Scottish prison. The use of opiates remains a concern and a number of those using the Shelter reported that these continue to be easy to obtain.
Instances of eviction and being labelled intentionally homeless increased significantly this season. Grouped together with those labelled as having no local connection and the new category of loss of benefits, they made up more than 30% of the reasons given for being homeless.
A lot of people in the Care Shelter suffer from poor mental health which may have contributed to them becoming homeless. This is something this question does not take into consideration and will be altered to reflect this for future seasons. Rough sleeping is unlikely to be good for someone’s mental health and so perhaps this is a problem that sometimes develops as a result of being homeless. Individuals are also asked what issues they need support with and, after housing, mental health features most commonly; 20% of respondents cited mental health as an issue they needed help with. Due to the wording of the question this figure does not take into account those people for whom mental health is an issue but they do not want support with it. Therefore it is likely that the percentage of people with mental health problems is much higher than 20% and certainly anecdotal evidence from staff supports that conclusion.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 33 June 2017
This chart shows the average number of nights people stayed by reasons given. Many of those giving relationship breakdown as the sole reason stayed only one or two nights. Often the person would arrive late having fallen out with a partner and end up at the shelter. As we often did not see them again we can only think that either reconciliation was achieved within a few days or that alternative temporary accommodation was obtained.
This chart illustrates the percentage of the total available shelter nights taken up by each reason. This informs us that, contrary to the popular misconception of rough sleepers mainly being those struggling with addiction, alcohol and drugs comprise only 22% of the reasons given. The vast majority are due to a change in circumstance or falling foul of the barriers to accommodation and changes to social benefits and income levels.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 34 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 35 June 2017
9.4 Length of time homeless
This graph indicates that a growing proportion of those using the service had been homeless for less than a week at the point of first using the shelter. The charts below show that these individuals stayed on average 7.5 nights and took up 24% of total bed spaces over the season.
Similar analysis of the other segments reveals that those who were homeless for six months to one year or more than two years stayed the most nights on average. This would suggest that those in this category find it hardest to access alternative accommodation having, in all likelihood, exhausted all other avenues.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 36 June 2017
9.5 Most recent accommodation
On their first visit to the shelter everyone was asked where they had stayed the previous night. The proportion who had been rough sleeping the night before reduced a little to 37% but remains the prevalent answer and a major concern. The answer “family and friends” continued to increase, potentially indicating a growing proportion of individuals needing to rely on friends and family for accommodation.
Those who had been in other temporary accommodation such as a hostel or B&B would often arrive and report having been removed from their accommodation as they had missed a curfew or were judged to have broken another rule. They were frequently left without explanation and without access to their belongings.
9.6 Where would you be staying tonight?
It is sometimes suggested that the Care Shelter should not be part of the provision for homeless people in the city. While it is the case that it would be better if there was no need for the Care Shelter, this graph shows the desperate need for the service to prevent individuals sleeping rough.
It also illustrates the terrible plight of those who were not able to get into the shelter when capacity was reached and further supports the need to maximise capacity by using the larger venues for as long as possible.
There were instances where people already in the shelter chose to give up their bed to allow someone more in need to be allowed in. These shining, selfless actions spoke volumes, reminding us that even in what seems to be the darkest of situations, light can overcome.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 37 June 2017
Kirsty’s story
Kirsty came to the Care Shelter the first night it was open. She had been sleeping rough for a wee while and was relieved to get in to the warm. Kirsty was fleeing a violent situation at home and was explaining to the staff that she was quite apprehensive to be in a room sleeping where other people were. A female member of staff sat down and had food with her at the table and listened to her tale. Kirsty began to settle, enough to lie down, so she took a bed.
Kirsty began to smile. Her attitude seemed to have shifted quite a lot since she came in and she now exclaimed joyfully, “I am just lying here thanking Jesus for a warm bed. All warm under my blanket. I think this is going to be the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time.”
A couple of weeks passed and Kirsty found herself having to use the Care Shelter again. It was a busy night and the shelter became full. The staff were having to explain to a couple who had arrived that there was unfortunately only room for one of them. A terrible moment that no one likes.
Kirsty became aware of what was happening because her bed was very close to the door. She stood up and came through to where the conversation was happening. “Since I was here last time I have felt my self-esteem improve so much that I have started to pray again. Here take my bed, I have a bus ticket and can stay on the buses for a while tonight so I don’t get cold, or I could go to the 24 hour Asda and look round, very slowly.”
The couple refused to start with, but after a while Kirsty managed to persuade them and to the female in the couple’s great relief and joy, they went to sleep in the same room as one another that night.
In this way Kirsty gave everything she had, her last hope of having somewhere to sleep inside that night. She gave away her last security willingly to someone she wanted to help. It is amazing to see that happen, humbling, such a price to pay to give all that she had for someone else.
Like the widow in Luke 21 verses 1-4.
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 38 June 2017
9.7 Length of time in Edinburgh
On their first night people were asked how long they had been in Edinburgh. Results indicate that 50% had been here for more than five years and two out of three had been here six months or more.
This chart looks at the proportion of total Care Shelter nights taken up by those within each category, and shows a similar result. 71% of nights are taken up by people who have been in Edinburgh for more than six months (at the point of their first attendance). The significance of this is that 6 months in Edinburgh is needed to establish a local connection. All of these people should therefore technically have a local connection and this in itself shouldn’t be a barrier to them accessing temporary accommodation, but this is not their experience. Of course, there may be other reasons that they are not eligible for housing.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 39 June 2017
9.8 Nationalities
The population of the Care Shelter comprised 38 different nationalities this season. The breakdown is similar to the previous season with 72% of those staying at the shelter being from the UK. This debunks the myth that it’s mainly used by other nationalities.
See over for a graphic of all of the nations represented.
The average number of nights the 502 UK nationals stayed at the shelter is lower than any other group. This is primarily because of the higher numbers from the UK and the much more fluid population, many of whom stayed for only one or two nights. This indicates that they are far more likely to have access to other routes out of rough sleeping and illustrates the difficulties other nationalities face in obtaining help whether that be due to less entitlement for support from the government, or a less extensive network of friends and family to support them in times of crisis. Other nationalities are forced to stay far longer at the Care Shelter than those from the UK.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 40 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 41 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 42 June 2017
10 FINANCE
The volunteer time is given for free, as are the venues and the use of kitchens, heating and lighting. Catering teams also provide the food supplies for the project each night as part of their voluntary church giving. We estimate that the in-kind giving provided to support the project is as follows:
Per night Full season Food £200 £39,200 Cost of volunteers if paid living wage £250 £49,000
Venue £100 £19,600 Caretaker £30 £5,880 Electricity £20 £3,920 Other donated goods £100 £19,600
Total £137,200
Without the high levels of gift in kind we could not fulfil the project. The level of donated goods and the voluntary service offered is exceptional. We budgeted and received restricted income as follows:
Restricted Income Overview Budget Actual
Individual Gifts £10,000 £14,962 Gift Aid £1,000 £3,157
Grants - £7,500 Received Church Gifts £30,000 £47,737 Trust Income £75,000 £52,425
Company Gifts £10,000 £37,251 Event Income - £6,860
Totals £136,000 £169,892
Although some areas did not come in as budgeted, due to other areas being much stronger than budgeted the restricted income was up £33,892 overall. The very high level of financial support from churches in addition to the volunteering and meals provided reflects the care and concern shown by the local churches in partnering with Bethany in this project.
The total expenditure for the Care Shelter was £220,356 and the total restricted income £169,892. The difference in these figures of £50,464 was met through additional income streams such as Retail, Caring Christmas Trees, the Big Sleep Out and general fundraising.
Everything that happens is only made possible by those who sponsor and donate the funds, and those who give of their goods and time. Each life saved, each move on, each offer of love needs to be funded to allow it to take place. The Care Shelter owes a huge debt of gratitude to everyone who gave their time, or who gave financially to facilitate this service.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 43 June 2017
In addition to the generous donations of many churches, individuals and sponsored events towards the work of the Care Shelter we are also very grateful to the various Trusts, Organisations, and Funds that responded generously to Bethany’s Fundraising Team in enabling us to fulfil this work:
The John Wilson Robert Christie Bequest Fund The Inchcape Foundation Cruden Foundation Ltd The Inchrye Trust The Rozelle Trust The Pret Foundation Trust The Evelyn Drysdale Charitable Trust Leith Benevolent Association Wilson Family Trust Challenge Trust The Netherdale Trust Fair Food Fund The Graham Trust The JW Laing Trust Hobson Charity Ltd Laing Family Trusts William Purves
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 44 June 2017
11 FEEDBACK AND QUALITATIVE UPDATES
11.1 Positive comments
Some examples of comments and stories from nightly reports submitted by team leaders (more can be found in Appendix B): “Thanks for having our backs.” “At least people care about me here.”
“Thanks for asking, and “There is something different about you. You trust us.” caring.”
“This place is so much better When given a sleeping bag: than a hostel or B&B. You “What, this is mine, to keep? Do actually care about us.” “I can see what a I need to bring it back? Wow! difficult job you guys Thanks very much.” have, you guys are amazing at it.” “I feel so different here. “Thank you for sticking up for us.” So at home.”
“I'm glad I came here tonight. I “I feel spoilt, not had a hot meal in a long time.” feel so much better.”
“I was planning on doing something bad and going back to prison until I spoke to [one of the staff] the other day. She “Sometimes I lose hope but really helped me get over these thoughts.” when I look at you I feel it will be ok because I see Christ.”
“So you guys really care about me.”
“I think it's amazing that you guys want to look after us.” “This place has helped me to start sorting my life out.”
“Thank you for simply just being here for me, I don't know what I'd do if it wasn't for the shelter.” “Living on the streets is hell, but when we are in the night shelter/ church, we are in heaven.”
“Thank you for looking after me, when others just want rid of me.”
“That's the best sleep I've “Thanks for remembering my name.” had in years. I slept right through.” “I was on drugs at the start of the shelter. Now I'm not, and so many people have moved on positively. Others are talking about getting into accommodation. It's been “I came back as you are so kind.” a great help to loads of us. Thank you.”
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 45 June 2017
“Thank you so much for looking out for me. “How can this place exist? Who pays for it? It's great!” Nobody else does.”
“If I can one day repay what you guys have done for me, I will.”
“I could never trust people who were nice and wanted to “This is just brilliant, I can't believe help me, but people who work and volunteer at the night how much you do for us.” shelter have changed my mind, I now know you guys are genuinely good people.”
“I don't know what I'd do without this place. It's saving my life every night.” “Thanks for looking after us.”
“I'm just lying here thanking Jesus for a warm bed. All warm under my blanket. I think this is going to be the best nights sleep I've had in a long time.”
“Thank you for taking care of my friend, you are all good people.”
11.2 Snapshot stories
Kent (pseudonym) used the Care Shelter a lot last year and turned up on the opening night this year. It was an amazing scene; nine people had just come along to say "Hi” and see one another again. They weren’t staying because they didn’t need to. It was a moment of long lost friends embracing and laughing and sharing together. A group of men and women, from all walks of life, stood on the street, laughing and hugging; so joyful to see one another once more. Kent had some really good news that he wanted to share; he had a job, working full-time as a carer. The staff and others were overjoyed for him, congratulating him and sharing in his moment. Kent had moved into a B&B towards the end of the Shelter last season but had now moved on to somewhere more suitable, although still temporary accommodation. He explained that he was saving his money and had seen a wee flat that he was very soon to put a deposit down for. He also was thinking ahead to being able to get a car to help with travel for his work. It was a really encouraging start to the season to see the fruit of last season’s Care Shelter borne out in Kent.
Brian (pseudonym) had been in Edinburgh for a number of years but things had taken a turn for the worse when he was without work and started drinking. After using the Shelter on and off for over a year things deteriorated when his brother was arrested and told he would be deported, and a friend he had been sharing accommodation with committed suicide. Brian turned up at the Shelter very intoxicated night after night, and staff became very concerned for his welfare. Staff chatted to Brian often about his situation and the option of going into recovery at Bethany Christian Centre, and they cared for him. One night he was taken away in an ambulance but when he returned a week or so later he was sober having been through a detox in the hospital. Keen to sort his life out, Brian was supported to apply to Bethany Christian Centre where he is now a resident. Almost a month sober, things are looking up for Brian.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 46 June 2017
The bigger the word, the more often it appeared. it often more the the word, bigger The
shows some of the common words and phrases contained within the feedback from people staying at the Shelter. the Shelter. at staying from people feedback the within contained phrases and words common the of some shows
wordle This
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 47 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 48 June 2017
12 CONCLUSION
The 2016-17 winter Care Shelter was again characterised by large numbers of people hoping to access the service. The amount of temporary accommodation available in Edinburgh does not meet the huge demand. This has led to increased pressures on the Care Shelter, with the Council frequently referring people to the Care Shelter and very few successful referrals being made in the opposite direction via Out of Hours. There is a definite need for additional temporary accommodation in Edinburgh. There is also a pressing need for new housing stock rather than accommodation being borrowed from the pool of permanent social housing. The current method of increasing temporary accommodation provision only exacerbates the problem if it reduces the options for people to move on from temporary to permanent accommodation, thereby keeping people homeless for longer.
Classing people as intentionally homeless or deeming them not to have a local connection are two actions that are causing people to be homeless for longer. Irrespective of whether someone is able to evidence a connection to Edinburgh, they are sleeping rough, the most acute form of homelessness, and are therefore at risk of dying on this city’s streets. Someone being unable to house you does little to help your self-esteem and being passed between local authorities adds no sense of worth or value to your life. We need to treat people with dignity, respect and love. I refer you to the poem on the second page of this report that emphasises that being homeless is something that can happen to any one of us. “Homeless people” aren’t a different breed; homelessness can affect anyone and could happen to you or me.
Working at the Care Shelter is such a privilege; getting to meet so many different people from all walks of life and being able to show love to people who are often in the darkest place, without hope and sometimes unable to imagine a future. Whether we are in contact with people night after night or just on one or two occasions we believe that God uses us in partnership with the local church to make a difference in people’s lives. Often we see the fruits of this work in people moving on to better things, sometimes they move on quietly and we can only hope that it was positive, and sometimes we spend a lot of time with people and praying for them as a team only to see them just as entrenched in addiction as ever. One of the staff members on the last night of the shelter encouraged us all with the analogy of the walls of Jericho falling down when Joshua and his army marched around the city seven times. She pointed out that we don’t know which number of circle we are on but we are contributing to God’s plan and one day the walls will come down and that individual’s life will be transformed.
Just before Christmas, a staff member from a different team in Bethany got in touch to share with us an encounter she’d had with a delivery man:
I had come in from work and was busy getting things sorted for the kids. I had taken my jacket off but not my badge when the doorbell went with a delivery from Yodel. I took the parcel and waited to sign for it when the guy said to me, “Yous really helped me.” I didn’t know what he was talking about as I forgot my badge was there, so I asked him to clarify. He looked at my badge and said, “I stayed in your Care Shelter about four years ago. It was brilliant. I don’t know where I would be today if it hadn’t been for the Care Shelter, it really helped me get back on my feet. I’m really good, my life is back on track now and I have definitely moved on from those days.”
How wonderful to hear of the impact the Care Shelter made on this person’s life four years ago. Hopefully the contact we had this winter with 706 different individuals will one day show similar results in their lives.
A Facebook post from one of the team sums up the Shelter perfectly:
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 49 June 2017
What a privilege and blessing to be sitting here tonight, in a room with 45 people who would otherwise be sleeping rough. All are sleeping soundly, snores punctuating the stillness, God's peace surrounding, supporting, protecting.
45 individuals. 45 Me’s, with feelings, dreams, needs, aspirations. 45 stories; relationship breakdown, addiction issues, loss of job, physical and mental health problems. Feeling abandoned, lost, ignored, cut off from family, from society, in survival mode. From all parts of the world—many trapped here unable to afford to get home.
Yet they can come in here and find community, share a meal together, find some peace, find some support, feel safe, sleep well.
The Shelter is run by Bethany Christian Trust and supported practically and in prayer by Christians throughout Scotland and further afield. We feel the benefit of their support. Peace and grace are tangible in here tonight, we are immersed in His love.
A colleague has just sent a verse round the team: Psalm 107 v 28 & 29, "They cried to The Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still." Tonight, for a while at least, their storms are still. Praise God.
Report compiled by Ruth Longmuir, Robert Thomson and Cameron Black
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 50 June 2017
13.1 APPENDIX A
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Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 52 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 53 June 2017
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 54 June 2017
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13.2 APPENDIX B
Further comments from the reports submitted each night by the team leader:
This is the best organisation I have come across. You are good people. Thank you, I had a great nights sleep. I really respect who you are and what you do. You guys do a power of work. I would someday love to do an amazing job like you guys do. You guys are too nice. You guys are amazing for what you do for us. You guys really do care. I feel spoilt. Thank you for saving my life tonight, I could not handle sleeping outside. You are good people. I thought I'd be sleeping rough coming to Edinburgh. I didn't know this kind of place existed. Thank you. That dinner was brill. That was great. Nice meal, peaceful, quiet. Now off to bed. I'm so glad you are here. Yous are good guys. It's great there's a place like this. Thanks for thinking of me. Why do you care about me? I didn't know about this place, I've spent nights wandering the streets and I could have been in here. These guys are here to help us. You do an amazing thing here. Is it centrally funded? Can I help raise money for you? I never knew a place like this existed, and it's free! You guys care too much. He is a good man! (About one of the staff team) This is a good place. These people will stay awake all night and make you feel safe. You are loving people like Jesus did. Staff received a Christmas card from someone wishing us a merry Christmas and thanking us for all we do. I love coming here! There are some really great people at the Shelter. They make you feel better. Brilliant! Thank you all so much for everything. You are a lifesaver. You are saving lives tonight. We gave someone a jacket that had been donated and he was taken aback saying, "This has made my day." You guys are so good to us. You never forget about us do yous. Thanks you guys. I know you are a good guy. Thank you for looking out for me. What a relief to be in here, warm and dry. You guys are awesome. This place is my home, my family. Thank you for the amazing work that yous do. I will miss you all, you've been a lifesaver. You guys really make me feel welcome. You are good people. It's a really good thing to know that this service is here to help.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 56 June 2017
You do great things here. I appreciate what you guys do so much. Did you see our gifts? I'm taken aback. You are great people, you do great things. Thank you, I owe you my life. I think it's great what you guys are doing, I don't think I would survive having to sleep on the streets. You guys are wonderful. Thanks once again guys. You've saved my life once more. You are all angels of mercy. Its nice to know you care. You guys have done so much for us. Thank you for everything. I couldn't have survived the last few months without you. The "churches" are a real lifesaver. I have so much respect for you guys and how you help me. You guys are amazing. There is a lot to be said for this place. Much nicer and better than a B&B! Is all of this really free? Thank you for all the food and everything you do. I feel so safe here. Pointing to Bethany Christian Centre, "I might be going there - result!!" You guys do a good job. Thank you so much. This place is great. Thank you for the food. This is a great place. It's a comfort to know I can come here. That was amazing food. Thank for all you have done for me. I have a good path now. I know you are good people. I really appreciate how much you guys do for me. You guys are here to help us. If I had loads of money I'd give you so much cause what you guys do is amazing. You have a really good heart. Thank you for making me feel welcome and safe here. You people have really kind hearts. What you do in the shelter is incredibly. If it wasn't for you I'd be out on the streets. I'm so glad to be here. I'll sleep tonight! I know you guys only want to help. I think it's pretty awesome what you guys do. You guys make me want to help others. Thanks you for the wonderful job yous do. You are like guardians of the night. These people are here because they want to help you. I couldn't survive without this place. It's so good knowing I can come here and sleep. It's good to see you, service user to staff. Since I've come here I've found a new respect for myself and can pray again. Thank you ! Thanks for all you have done to support me. You do a great job making sure people don't fall so far down they can't recover. Thank you for listening and caring. There's different agencies but Bethany are by far the best. The shelter is always good. You guys are awesome and deserve a medal.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 57 June 2017
You are angels of mercy. Thank God you guys are here, I don't want to be out in the rain. Thank you for everything you have done. I won't forget you. Thank you so much for your help. It was just what I needed. You'll make a great mum, the way you look after us. I know that you are looking out for me and I thank you for that. Great food! We may not always say it but what you do is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Care Shelter Annual Report 2016-2017 58 June 2017