The Court Case of Mr Yamauchi, and All the Top Homeless Stories. Plus, an Interview with John Bird

The paper for the homeless – London edition Issue 18 – free

Inside: The court case of Mr Yamauchi, and all the top homeless stories. Plus, an interview with John Bird

February 2007 2 / The Pavement, February 2007 The Pavement, February 2007 / 3 The Editor More stories from readers in future, please

Thank you to all readers who have contacted us with stories this month. It’s the only way we can report on what’s happening, and we’ll follow up every hint of news we receive. Most rumours prove half-true at best, but if we investigate them we can, at least, get a definitive answer, and we’ll print the truth about a false rumour just to see it quashed. The story that’s grabbed my attention in this issue is from the streets of Osaka, Japan (p4). It may seem far off, but there are parallels with life in www.thepavement.org.uk the UK that I’m sure many readers will recognise. We’ll watch to see what Issue 18 / February 2007 happens with Mr Yamauchi’s appeal. Some of our regular columnists are on holiday this issue, but we’ve the Published by first part of a two-part interview with John Bird on page 13, which I’m sure The Pavement will raise some reaction from readers. Registered Charity Number 1110656 Our address is to the left. PO Box 43675 London Richard Burdett SE22 8YL Editor Telephone: 020 7833 0050 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

Editor Richard Burdett Contents Cover Web Editor Val Stevenson Portrait by Robert Lenkiewicz – Richard holding bentwood chair News Editor (2001, oil on canvas). This, from the artist’s series on Addictive Catherine Neilan Behaviour, and other works from Vagrancy, will be showing at the Halcyon Gallery, 29 Bruton Street, London, from 8th – 24th February. Reporters Clara Denina, Naomi Glass, Reneé Centre spread Maltezou, Amanda Palmer, Carlo Svaluto Moreolo, Rebecca Wearn Milford Lane, Westminster; a regular for several stop for soup runs, Photographer and the location for Councillor Angela Harvey’s impromptu visit on Rufus Exton 17th January. Photography by Rufus Exton

Contributors News Pages Cobbett, Insider, Flo, Phil Lee, Andrew Sinclair, Toe Slayer, News – Mr Yamauchi’s troubles 4 – 5 Jenisa Thumbadoo News – life in a car in Leeds 6 – 7 Printed by News in brief 8 – 12 Evon Print Street Life The Pavement is written for your entertainment and information. Whilst Interview – John Bird 13 – 15 every effort is made to ensure the accuracy Dear Flo – on piles 18 of the publication, The Pavement cannot be held responsible for the use of the Toe Slayer – sore feet 20 information it publishes. The contents Ask Agnes – agony aunt 21 should not be relied upon as a substitute Good Soup Guide 22 for medical, legal or professional advice. The List 24 – 31 The Pavement is a forum for discussion, Missing persons 31 and opinions expressed in the paper are not necessarily those of The Pavement. 4 / The Pavement, February 2007 Mr Yamauchi’s loss But this case is just part of the problem facing Japan’s homeless

A Japanese man has lost the exercise one’s rights as a citizen ple’s association has been set right to use a tent as his legal without a registered address. up to create a support network address, after a court in Osaka “We want people to be able for those who live in the city’s ruled against him. The man to register themselves as living parks. The community pools had initially won the case in the in the park and use that as a their resources to buy food and lower court last year, but this springboard to return to an other necessary items, with all ruling was eventually overturned independent life,” she added. the members of the association by Osaka High Court. “No one wants to live in a park taking an active role within their Yuji Yamauchi, who has forever.” community. More recently, they lived in a removable lightweight Four years ago, a Japanese have even started to grow food tarpaulin tent in a park in the government survey found there together in the park. western industrial city of Osaka were more than 25,000 home- But, as they spread, the since 2000, was told by the High less people living in the country, colonies are becoming more at Court it was illegal for him to use and that more than 40% lived risk from being destroyed, as the a park for his address. in parks. Japanese authorities try to evict Local news agency Kyodo There has been a great shift people like Mr Yamauchi. quoted the Osaka High Court towards park-dwelling since the It also seems that the people as saying in its judgement: “The 1990s, when the economic crisis are being moved on because of tent is simply constructed of saw unemployment rocket. The the city’s sporting aspirations. pieces of wood and tarpaulin. It country had experienced rapid Back in 2000, it was with hopes can easily be removed and is not growth from the 1960s, fuelled of wooing the Olympic commit- fixed to the ground.” by cheap labour and mass hous- tee (it went to China), and this The authorities argued by ing. When the recession hit, it hit year it is in anticipation of the this rationale that the tent did the casual labourers hardest. 2007 IAAF World Champion- not meet the standards of a resi- Osaka was particularly af- ships in Athletics. dence by ‘conventional wisdom’. fected by this, as it was a city The people were given a They concluded that: “Under that depended on construction deadline of 21st January to leave the city parks law, it is not per- for much of its wealth. peaceably, or face having their mitted for a private individual to Osaka has the largest home- tents removed. use a park as their address.” less population in Japan – 7,700 Two years ago, the govern- Mr Yamauchi’s case had by official figures, and more than ment shut Tokyo’s Okubu Park been sent to court by the City 10,000 unofficially. Japan has a in an attempt to rid it of rough Office, which appealed against relatively high average for the sleepers. The closure was the last the original ruling from concerns ages of its rough sleepers – 55.9 move in a series of initiatives car- that it would encourage other years, according to latest figures. ried out by the authorities, which people to move into the park. Rather than sleep on the streets included concreting over parts of Mr Yamauchi told Kyodo or face the hostels, the majority the greenery and removing the that he faced difficulty joining of the country’s rough sleepers children’s play area in order to the public health insurance found the instantly recognisable make the area less comfortable system and registering as a voter blue tents to be more comfort- for those who camped there. without a legal address. The 56- able. In the oldest of Tokyo’s parks, year-old said he planned to take As the recession continued, Ueno Onshi, benches have been the case to the Supreme Court. more people became homeless, made ‘anti-homeless.’ They Suzuko Yasue, who works and communities sprang up. have a metal arm going into the for the Homeless Human Rights Many of Japan’s parks are dot- back centre of the bench, and Resources Centre in Tokyo, ted with these blue tents, visible the seat tilts downwards. said the ruling was disappoint- from space (see them on Google Carlo Svaluto Moreolo & ing: “Today’s verdict is a great Maps Japan). shame. It is very difficult to In Osaka, a homeless peo- Catherine Neilan The Pavement, February 2007 / 5

“Today’s verdict is a great shame. It is very difficult to exercise one’s rights as a citizen without a registered address.” Photography by Juergen Specht © 2007 © Specht Juergen by Photography 6 / The Pavement, February 2007

“We can even make a cuppa with a water heater through the cigarette lighter” Photography by David Helder © 2006 © Helder David by Photography The Pavement, February 2007 / 7 An Englishman’s car… With a housing shortage in Leeds, one family moved into their Mondeo

A family of three from Leeds has “Daniella, Duncan and Hayley on Leeds City Council’s housing finally been re-housed after having approached me, and we have been waiting list. to live in their Ford Mondeo for nine working with them and Leeds city Mr Harper said: ‘There are so months. Council to get the family housed.” many families on the list because Club singer Daniella Prestwich, When his constituents have the Council is facing a severe her 12-year-old daughter Hayley housing issues, Mr Hamilton said he housing shortage – and this is the and her partner Duncan Haigh lost works closely with the Arms Length effect of 25 years of the ‘right to their accommodation in May, and Management Organisation (ALMO), buy’ policy.” had been sleeping in their car until which runs housing in one part of Introduced by the Conservatives just a few weeks ago. Leeds. in the early Eighties, the bill saw The Mondeo became home for He added: “The problem with more than five million council house the three after they were taken housing in general is that it is so tenants gain the right to buy their off the priority list for Leeds City low on the political agenda, and yet home with discounts between 33% Council housing. around London it is the most critical and 50%, depending on how long But after nearly nine months, issue facing people and families. they had lived there. and thanks to a lot of pressure We could easily solve the problem Mr Harper said: “The proceed- applied to the Council, the three by building more low-cost homes ings from the sale of the houses to have finally been offered a suitable for rent or for rental-to-purchase the tenants went into the Treas- house in the area. schemes.” ury’s coffers instead of being given Local press reported that the Gerry Harper, spokesperson for to the councils, which now do not family was taken off the Leeds MP Fabian Hamilton, said when the have money to build social housing, City Council housing list after they family got in touch with Mr Hamil- and people are waiting to get into refused to accept property which ton, he wrote a letter on their behalf the reduced number of council they felt “was not fit for human to Leeds City Council, asking to have houses.” habitation.” them returned to the priority list. The authority’s executive board Miss Prestwich told journal- Mr Harper said that the family approved the sale of council land ists that the accommodation the had bid for many houses but the in Kirkstall, Leeds, to a private Council had assigned them was in Council had not responded – even company, Home Housing Associa- an area “where huge gangs of yobs after Mr Hamilton had written tion, for £85,000, even though the roamed the streets.” letters to the council to support land was valued at £800,000. Her husband added that that them. The company intends to build while they were there, someone had He decided to make the most of 17 affordable family homes on the thrown bricks at passing cars, and his contacts in the local media, and land. The properties will be sold by that the family was warned not to he got in touch with some journal- Home HA to eligible applicants in a take the place by neighbours. ists to raise the alarm. shared equity scheme. The family found no solution but The story was published by Another plan to regenerate one to adapt to life in a car – staying several newspapers, including the of Leeds’s deprived communities in public car parks or on residential region’s biggest – The Yorkshire – Beeston Hill and Holbeck – is streets near friends’ homes at night. Post – and slowly attention was ongoing. Miss Prestwich said when the drawn towards the case of Dan- Leeds’ Council is to select cold weather came, the three would ielle’s family. another private company to put the car heater on and make the Mr Harper said: “I wanted to develop a £90m project to build 200 most of their set of covers, thermals highlight the case of the family council homes and 500 other homes and layers. She said: “We can even – once it had hit the headlines, the over the next 15 to 20 years. make a cuppa with a water heater Council would have looked a bit silly through the cigarette lighter.” if it did not do anything about the The family turned to local MP case.” Fabian Hamilton – who is said to The coverage on the local media be dealing with a huge number of rewarded the family, which has complaints about council housing finally assigned a house by the in Leeds. Council. However, a large number Mr Hamilton told The Pavement: of people – around 32,000 – remain Carlo Svaluto Moreolo 8 / The Pavement, February 2007 News-in-brief A round up of all the news from the streets of London and around the world Morning visit Out of sight, out of Look Ahead Westminster Councillor Angela mind? evictions - a false Harvey, accompanied by a police presence, made an unannounced A property developer in Daytona rumour visit to the Simon Community soup Beach, Florida, has unveiled plans to run on Wednesday, 17th January. give rough sleepers their own resort. Look Ahead’s hostel in Bayswater Westminster City Council con- Michael Arth says removing has dismissed claims that it evicted firmed her presence in Milford Lane, 2,700 homeless people from afflu- residents shortly before Christmas, of the Strand, but was concerned ent suburbs to a 125-acre site near claiming it has one of the best that it had been misconstrued. the local prison will solve what he records in London. Cllr Harvey was there with dubbed a “vagrancy problem”. He The Pavement was told that Westminster Council press officer claimed that this “permanent and eleven people had been forced to Paul Marinko and a Sunday Times compassionate solution” would be leave their accommodation in the Magazine journalist who was a cheaper alternative to impris- run up to the festive period, but this writing an article on London’s rough onment for illegal vagrancy or was denied by members of staff at sleepers. The journalist’s name, and re-homing. However, critics claim the hostel. the angle and publication date of the separation of residents is akin to It was suggested that these the story, was not revealed. Two Soviet gulags. expulsions came as a result of the policemen were parked around the The plans outline a 5,600-bed increase in beds available at Crisis corner from Milford Lane. village of bungalows, communal open Christmas. Simon Community staff only gardens and a pool, as well as coun- But Mark Lewis, head of opera- found out about the visit from their selling and job training, at a total tions concerning homelessness for guests. Tim Nicholls, director of the cost forecast at $50m (£25.33m). Look Ahead, denied this was the charity, said that he was keen to The idea has earned mixed reac- case, stating that the Bayswater work with the council: “We would tions from local charities. “I have hostel had the lowest percentages welcome good effective co-opera- concerns about creating a gulag for of evictions every year. tion with any agency in terms of homeless people who are not inte- Customers were evicted only if being able to support the people we grated into society, of essentially they would not pay the rent or if meet better and more effectively.” sending them to a reservation to they constantly broke house rules, He was keen to point out that Cllr live,” Lindsay Roberts, the execu- he said. Harvey did not need permission tive director of the Volusia-Flagler Mr Lewis said he was surprised to visit the Simon Community. “It Coalition for the Homeless, told to hear the allegations of an evic- is there for anyone who might be a local paper. But she added that tion taking place during the season. hungry or in need of a cup of tea the scale of the problem was such “We very rarely would evict over on a cold night,” he joked. “I am that the plan was a step in the right Christmas, and certainly not for pleased that she found everyone to direction. The Daytona Beach police anything like rent,” he said. be welcoming.” chief has become so desperate that “It would have to have been a Mr Nicholls hoped the he recently proposed offering rough very serious incident – and by that I journalist’s article would aid the sleepers free bus tickets out of the mean something like an attempted work his charity sets out to do: “I city. murder – in which case, the person understand that she probably saw Rebecca Wearn would be then arrested.” argued other soup runs, and I am pleased Mr. Lewis that more than one charity is The hostel had only evicted involved in trying to help tackle the two people since March 2006, and isolation and hunger that so many that was for behavioural issues, he people experience on London’s added. streets,” he added. “The two evictions took place Rebecca Wearn last summer, and if my memory The Pavement, February 2007 / 9 serves me right, the police were Mr Kitchingham was arrested in called as there were drugs and a the same village in 2002 for stab- Mystery beating gun involved.” said Mr. Lewis. bing a bar manager in the head, There had been no evictions and hospitalised for treatment. At Rumours have been circulating of since then, and none for non-pay- the time, Detective Sergeant Mark two rough sleepers being severely ment of rent, he said. Preston-Heard, of East Surrey Police, beaten with a piece of wood near “The Bayswater hostel has the said: “I am delighted with the the Strand in the week ending 12th verdict, which means that Stephen lowest percentages of evictions per January, near Southwark Bridge, in Kitchingham will no longer be a year. You can count them in two the centre of the capital. danger to the general public. He has hands to be honest, which is why Although the details are vague, proved himself to be a dangerous sources claim that one man was we are seen as one of the best hos- and unpredictable man, and this badly cut and bruised, and received tels in London,” added Mr Lewis. case had a profound effect not only stitches for a head wound. The According to Mr. Lewis, before on the victim and his direct family, anyone can be evicted there is but on the whole community.” reports also claim that a second man remained in an unknown a long warning process. The first Rebecca Wearn warning is verbal, then two more London hospital for a week and the warnings follow and then the perpetrator had been arrested. eviction note is given. Residents Inspector Malcolm Barnard, of still then have a period of time to Dead man walking… the homeless unit in Charing Cross appeal, and those appeals would away police station, has asked colleagues be referred to people outside of the for further details: “I have spoken hostel. A man who was thought to be dead with senior officers in CID and “They also have the chance to has been discovered in New York officers on the Safer Neighbour- appeal to myself, as the operation by his ex-wife, after being sued for hood teams, and I cannot find manager” said Mr. Lewis. anti-social behaviour. any account of such an incident The whole process can take two Rough sleeper Roger Greenlee, involving rough sleepers,” he said. “I or three months, he said. 64, was slapped with a $100m am keen to establish whether such The Look Ahead organization lawsuit for passing his days outside an incident occurred, but without an up-market antiques shop on a date or details of the individuals was awarded with the 2006 Andy Madison Avenue. involved, it is impossible to verify.” Ludlow Homeless Award for its The story was aired on US customer involvement program and Rebecca Wearn national television. When Elsie has a special complaints policy. Sparks, 60, spotted her former Reneé Maltezou husband, she was ‘flabbergasted’. Mutual support, “We’ve been looking for him for 30 years,” she told local news. “I’m please Violence in Surrey glad he’s safe and that people care about him. Quite frankly, I thought Homeless man Stephen Kitch- he was dead.” An outreach charity has lamented ingham, 34, has been jailed for a She last saw Mr Greenlee in the the lack of co-operation between further 11 weeks after pleading late 1970s before he left her and service centres in London. guilty to two counts of criminal their children, Michelle, now 35, and Tim Nicholls, director of the damage in Redhill, Surrey. Dan, now 41. He suffered from a Simon Community, wants more Mr Kitchingham terrified bi-polar disorder, forcing the family mutual assistance from night Walton-on-the-Hill residents on 22nd to move 20 times in 14 years to find shelters to give better to support November last year by smashing work. to London’s vulnerable rough windows of shops and cars. Police Ms Sparks was hurt that Mr sleepers. “Our outreach teams often located him after an all-night Greenlee had no interest in reunit- meet people in crisis late at night,” manhunt in their helicopter. Mr ing the family and felt she was Mr Nicholls explained. “Despite Kitchingham has already served being rejected again. “I’m glad he’s repeated attempts to secure referral three months in jail, but following OK and that he’s doing what he rights into the St Martin’s night a report into his continuing mental wants to,” she added. “I guess you shelter, we have been refused, for health difficulties, he was held in would call him a survivor. Obviously, no reason.” custody. His solicitor had voiced he has done fairly well at doing He and his colleagues were his concern for his safety if he was that.” aware that the night shelter was released. Rebecca Wearn often only half full. “In the interests 10 / The Pavement, February 2007 of the people we meet, it would now focus resources into day cen- be good to be able to get those in Fundng cut for tres and ‘building based services’. deepest need away from the streets Thames Reach In this sense the demise of our and into a safe environment,” said specialist Westminster outreach Mr Nicholls. “This is just one area team is a natural and expected Rumours that Thames Reach were where I think there could be effec- consequence of that approach. We going to lose some of their funding tive co-operation.” will not be losing the expertise that from Westminster Council were Mr Nicholls has consistently we have gained through this work proved true recently. stated that his organisation is and continue to work with rough James Francis, their head pleased about the increased invest- sleepers who are referred into our of street and hostel serv- ment in building-based services. hostels and support projects in ices, made this statement to “It is silly to assume that building- Westminster. The Pavement:“Thames Reach’s based services need to be in conflict “Thames Reach will not there- street-based outreach contract with with the range of outreach services fore be part of the building based the City Council to respond to the offered by the likes of the Simon contract into 2007-8, but will con- needs of long-term rough sleepers Community,” he said. “It is wrong to tinue to work towards ending street in Westminster ends on 31st March, assume that there is a ‘one size fits homelessness through its London and is not being extended. Thames all’ approach to tackling the issues Street Rescue teams which under- Reach has been part of the ‘build- of rough sleeping and homeless- take outreach work throughout the ing based services’ partnership ness; there is a sizeable group who M25 area and has recently been since the outset and had planned cannot – or will not – access build- extended with additional money to reduce the streetwork we do for ing-based programmes.” from the Treasury to provide Westminster City Council as the Mr Nicholls felt that the support support to the London Ambulance balance of resources being spent on services offered on the streets Service and local hospital Accident streetwork shifts more to day cen- needed to be improved, but they & Emergency Departments.” should work alongside those offered tres. Our team has out-performed by day centres and other building- the council’s targets set in the Staff based providers. contract and we are pleased with He voiced concerns of a ‘blame what we have been able to achieve. and shame’ culture against smaller The council’s wider strategy is to agencies such as the Simon Com- munity and hoped that the sector would grow up: “It’s time for all agencies – voluntary, local government and central government – to return to this serious matter and work more effectively together to support those both on the streets and in hostels.” Rebecca Wearn

Bad smack

Westminster Drug And Alcohol Team released another alert on 31st January. It stated that those using the needle exchange had told of their experiences of an overdose. They all claimed to be using their regular amount, and some have described the heroin as creamy in colour. It is particularly common in the W9 and NW8 areas. Staff “I’ve only got eyes for YouTube” The Pavement, February 2007 / 11

Greener pastures gage and contract guarantees. able direct dialogue with those in Clara Denina authority, so that people could raise any concerns they had. Green Pastures has called for “Our outreach workers were leading charities and the Church in talking to people who were sleeping Britain to take a more dynamic role Ministerial rough. They were asked what they in providing permanent homes for pow-wow marred wanted to do in terms of hav- the nation’s homeless. ing their voice heard. The rough Rev. Peter Cunningham, founder Thames Reach has defended sleepers said they wanted to speak of Green Pastures, said that there itself from accusations that a meet- to people in government. We was a huge discrepancy between ing between rough sleepers and a contacted the government and Ms. the Government figures and the member of parliament last month Armstrong agreed to meet them,” exact number of those who are was little more than a publicity said Mr Nicholas. considered to be sleeping rough. stunt. “There was a discussion about “Government counters are A group of nine participants bureaucracy that hinders people’s purposely misleading, to avoid met with Hilary Armstrong, MP for journey off the streets and into ac- alarming the public and generating Social Exclusion, in Whitehall on 9th commodation and it was described bad press,” he said. “The Ministry of January, in an initiative organised by one participant as ‘hurdle, hur- Misinformation fails to tell us that by the charity. dle, brick wall’”, said Mr Nicholas. there are 500,000 homeless people But this meeting has come Outreach service manager in Britain and 750,000 empty under fire for failing to deal with Petra Salva, who co-organised and houses.” issues of long-term homelessness. attended the meeting, said: “There The problem of homelessness One source, who spoke to The were people there who find services would be resolved with the acquisi- Pavement having attended the very supportive, others who do not, tion of 220,000 empty homes, less meeting, said: “Had the meeting and others still who sleep on the than a third of those that appear been about rough sleepers as it was streets of London and are unhappy on the empty homes register, he supposed to be, more time would about it. said. have been spent discussing the “The meeting was a good op- In 1999, Pastor Pete, who used street issues, but too much time portunity to crystallize issues, but it to be a stockbroker, promoted a was spent on non-street issues.” would be dangerous to say the at- new ethical investment company in The objective of the meeting tendees were representative of the the property business, designed to was to get to grips with the issues homeless community in London. buy property for homeless families around the use of outreach services We tried to have people with dif- by renting it to investors. or Building Based Services and how ferent experiences to cover a wider The objective was for investors to improve their suitability. range of issues,” she said. to gain interest equivalent to what But the choice of participants Ms Salva said although the they would receive on other finan- – five hostel residents, two who initial goal had been to reach the cial instruments, as well as shares in were squatting and two long-term Prime Minister, the fact that Hilary the rising value of property. rough sleepers – has been ques- Armstrong accepted was a success. With just £26,000 Pastor Pete tioned as representative. Kellie Manchip, who spent six purchased a ramshackle building “This meeting was supposed to years on the street before finally that had two self contained flats. be about those rough sleepers who moving to a Thames Reach hostel Since this first step, the company would not engage with the out- one month ago said she thought has grown to 136 units with about reach service and why they would the meeting had been worthwhile. 300 tenants. not. The five who were in hostels “I felt like people paid attention Green Pastures has also made had obviously already engaged to me at the meeting and I’d love the somewhat controversial sug- with the outreach service, and by the chance to go back to the Cabi- gestion of using church land as a that fact alone were not authentic net Office in the future to see if the source of finance. Churches are participants. They were no longer government has not only listened, usually surrounded by hectares of rough sleepers, and should not have but acted upon the issues we spoke land that could be used to set up in- been there.” said our source. about,” she said. ternet cafes, or conference, leisure But Mike Nicholas, communica- The group discussed the pos- and sports centres. tions manager for Thames Reach, sibility of providing a helpline for A well intentioned Government defended the meeting, saying those facing eviction, dealing with could come alongside with mort- the purpose of the visit was to en- a specific individual’s needs, and the advantage building communi- 12 / The Pavement, February 2007

including medical care, specialist support workers, housing & benefits advice and employment & training support. Services are run on a drop- in basis and people can either show up at the centre or make appointments with the specialist workers. Miss Garry said: “We plan to move back to No 12 Adelaide street within 10-12 months. In the meantime, our address remains unchanged.” The redevelopment programme is affecting the whole area of St Martin’s-in-the-Fields church and the buildings owned by the Parish – a £37 million programme partly funded by the government and partly by trusts and corporations. Carlo Svaluto Moreolo

Hostel raided On 30th November 2006, police carried out a series of raids on properties providing accommodation ties of those who shared the experi- that understanding.” to the homeless, across Kensington and Chelsea. with Princess Beatrice ence of sleeping rough to prevent Reneé Maltezou isolation. House being one of several proper- Small-scale hostels with a per- ties raided. sonal feel were discussed, alongside St Martin’s work Princess Beatrice is a hostel oper- a recommendation that hospitals ated by Look Ahead. provide specialist help at point of continues During this series of raids, it discharge. is believed that 25 people were The participants also requested Services at Connection at St arrested on suspicion of drug that the homelessness sector and Martin’s day centre near Trafalgar offences. Four of those arrested government do more to reduce the Square have been moved to a were residents at Princess Beatrice temporary wooden building while House, although no Class A drugs barriers that prevent people from the charity’s main building goes were found on the premises. getting into accommodation. through a £6.5 million refurbish- Look Ahead cooperated fully A Cabinet Office spokesperson ment scheme. with the police, and Chris Ingram, said: “Hilary Armstrong does visits Helen Garry, fundraising director operations director for Look Ahead and outreach on a regular basis, for the charity, said that services at housing and care, said: “We have and said during the meeting how Connection & St. Martin’s – located a strict no drugs policy. We will valuable it was to get the sort of in 12 Adelaide Street – are running evict any residents where there is direct feedback the guests were business as usual and that their evidence of drug dealing.” giving. There was a free and open quality had not been affected. Princess Beatrice House in Earls discussion.” Miss Garry said: “We have Court provides supported housing The spokesperson added: moved to a three-storey purpose for 118 single, homeless people “One of things we want to both built wooden building so we are from Kensington and Chelsea. emphasise and learn about is how able to continue offering our full people can be enabled to turn Staff range of services.” around their lives. To have people The centre operates a day and who are no longer rough sleeping night centre, with practical facilities in attendance is crucial to getting The Pavement, February 2007 / 13 The interview John Bird is not a man of few words. Famed for founding The Big Issue and – more recently – for speaking out about the vulnerably housed, Bird is seen in equal measures as a hero and a villain, with a talent for contraversy. In his own words, he tells Naomi Glass his (Bird’s eye) views on what lies in store for those with no fixed abode

You recently published a in a hostel, so holding their hands “If you go into the homeless manifesto called ‘A Rolls Royce for 10 years costs £600,000. And system, it’s a bit like going into service for the homeless, please’. there are many, many homeless hospital. You see the doctor, who people who have been in the home- tells you you’re very ill and that you “We’re making a programme with less sector for longer than that. need to go to hospital. You go to Channel 4 all about this. Nobody “Why not spend more money hospital, and they say you need a really wants to bite the bullet over on them now in order to save later? major operation and a long recov- the issue of homelessness, so people If we were to spend £30,000 a ery. They show you where the TV is, get a shoddy service. Some of my year for two years – £60,000 – on the remote control, the bed. They friends and family – because they bespoke treatment, plus intensive give you a library book and ask you can afford it – have had what I care and counselling, we would save what you want for tea tomorrow would call a Rolls Royce service to £540,000. night. That’s your first day of hos- help them out of their addictions or “Spend a couple of years on pitalisation. The second, third and whatever it was that lead them to ill rebuilding someone’s life, and you fourth day are just the same. But health or homelessness. They go to give them what the upper and on the fifth day, the nurse comes places like the Priory for help. middle classes give their families. in and tells you that you’re going “Then there are others who Just give them what they really home tomorrow. “But I thought I have no money, have gone need, whatever it is, whether it’s was really ill – I haven’t even had through the state system and have dance lessons or detox, and they will my operation!” you say. And that never changed. They have been start to get better. is what generally happens to the continually homeless, and often “And I’ve seen this work again homeless within hostels. continuously in and out of the and again in the lives of people I “95% of all money in this sector prison system. A mate of mine died know.” goes into emergency or stabilisa- recently at 49 years of age. He was tion, and only five per cent into a London-Irish lad I’d known since I Why do hostels fail to help in cure. If you’ve been fucked over or was about 15. For the last 26 years the recovery process of someone abused as a child, will a big house of his life, he had social security, he homeless? with a café area, dorms, toilets and got a flat, and he was supported in a consulting room (where you can and out of the prison system and in “On the whole, hostels should not be see your key worker for two hours and out of long-term hostels. But in called hostels: they should be called a week or get a couple of hours the end, he was killed by the system hostiles, because hostels are largely a month of psychological help or because nobody ever did a fucking hostile to the needs of homeless some career advice) really change thing for him, other than maintain people. your situation? A lot of these people him. “Certainly, homeless people are well over the top, as I was when “What homeless people with need to be lifted off the streets I was young. They need what, deep problems need is intensive because they are destroying unfortunately, nobody gave me care. They need to come out the themselves. They need to be given either: deep and intense psychologi- other side, recovered and places of safety in therapeutic com- cal help.” independent.” munities whether they like it or not, because often their mental health With an emphasis on cure not How much would it cost to provide problems do not allow them to maintenance, how could a Rolls a Rolls Royce service? make decisions by themselves. But Royce service for the homeless this just has to be one of a number come about in the UK? “On average it costs £60,000 per of stages in getting the homeless year to maintain a homeless person off the streets. “For me, the future of the world 14 / The Pavement, February 2007

is about participatory and not creating homelessness, poverty their minds are being destroyed by representational democracy: I and crime? I’ll be telling the Home well-intentioned do-gooders who don’t want you to represent me Office that I don’t want them think they’re helping when all they – I want you to represent yourself. polluting my London any more and are doing is creating dependency It’s about getting the people with getting them to tell me how they rather than independence in the the problems involved in the solu- plan to stop the creation of crime, people they are trying to help.” tions. Homeless people have to be homelessness and social abuse. I involved in the solution, which is just don’t tolerate the indifference that What does the future hold for what we did with the Big Issue. The society has towards the homeless. I UK’s homeless and vulnerably solutions should not be left just to don’t want London to be like Lagos, housed? experts and trained professionals. and I don’t want London to turn “If you look at homeless people, into a Third World city where people “There will come a time when the they are always demanding things can live and die in the streets and industry will lose its support because as if they were children, because you don’t care. “ more money is being spent and no one has allowed them to grow fewer people are coming out the up. They are kept as eight-year- other end. In the same way that olds. Eight-year-olds put their hand “I don’t want climate change is having enormous out for money, for sweets, for the and increasing effects, the problems clothes they want… and Mummy London to turn into of homelessness are rising. More and Daddy put something in it. a city where people and more people are getting more Homeless people should be given and more desperate. Unless we pass the freedom to make their own can live and die our buck to the people, we’re lost.” choices. “You can’t leave all problems to in the streets and John Bird’s views are sure to raise government or to your MP to solve. I some comment from readers, so want people to be trained to under- you don’t care” do write in to let us know your stand government budgets so they thoughts. Is he calling for a fairer can vote on how the budget’s going world or a class war? Are his com- to be spent because they know how How does life for the vulnerably ments accurate? Is he in touch it works. housed differ from what it was like with today’s homeless? Tell us your “The world trains us to be chil- when you were on the streets as a opinion on what he’s said here; dren because the people in power young man? you can write in or e-mail us at the treat us like children, so a change addresses on page 3. could come about if we recaptured “The homeless used to work for a the heights of politics. We have living – they didn’t get things for Next month: Naomi Glass contin- to start with a revolution where free. They weren’t allowed to beg ues with a day-in-the-life of John we make the decisions based on because if they did, they got done Bird. knowing where the wealth goes.” under the Vagrancy Act. If they slept rough, they got done under Have you been in conversation the No Fixed Abode Act. The laws with the British government over are still there; we just don’t use the issues of homelessness? them. Forty or 50 years ago, the homeless would have to live in “I have been in conversation with a place like a roundhouse or the them over the years, but they have Salvation Army. Then they’d have never listened to me. I’m prob- to work, which they could because ably going to stand for the Mayor hundreds of businesses employed of London in 2008 and I shall be people on a day-to-day basis, on a making a lot of noise about why it casual list which paid around five is that London is full of homeless shillings a day. people and why they’re ware- “Now the homeless are sitting housed. in hospitals or are being paid to do “Why is it that there are 16 nothing and not to be responsible. prisons in the London area which They need a chance to grow up. Naomi Glass – interview are a kind of social machine for They just live on state benefits and Rufus Exton – photography 16 / The Pavement, February 2007

Milford Lane, Westminster, one of the cleanest streets in London due to its daily spray from Onyx cleaners. This was the site of a Westminster councillor’s nocturnal visit - see story page 8. The Pavement, February 2007 / 17 Photography by Rufus Exton © 2007 © Exton Rufus by Photography 18 / The Pavement, February 2007 Health Nurse Flo on… piles

Obstruction can be caused by pregnancy or liver cirrhosis. It’s also known that being overweight or doing lots of heavy lifting can con- tribute to the development of piles. Unlucky for some, more men than women suffer piles. You may experience pain, itching and bright-red rectal bleeding; which you may notice on the paper, streaking the faeces or splashing around the toilet pan. You may also find that you have the sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, known as tenesmus. This is due to engorgement and further straining will exacerbate the problem, so do try not to sit and push. You may not be able to see your piles as they can be either internal or external; the former are the most common, sit about 2-4cm above the rim of the anus and are usually painless, and the latter painful. Piles can be graded: 1. Don’t prolapse out of the anal canal 2. Prolapse on defecation, but reduce spontaneously

Photography by Steve Store © 2005 © Store Steve by Photography 3. Require manual reduction 4. Can’t be reduced A man went to see his doctor and But, apart from material for jokes, Management is best achieved he was diagnosed with piles. The what are they? through prevention, i.e avoiding doctor gave him some supposito- Essentially a pile is a swollen, constipation and eating foods with ries and told him to “place one in bulging vein, caused by increased plenty of roughage/fibre. General his back passage for the next two pressure. Not so funny. guidance is to cut down on fatty weeks.” Age old myths about piles being foods, eat lots of wholegrains and When he had used them all, caused by sitting on radiators or to drink enough fluids, other than he went back to his doctor. “Well cold stone walls are thought not to coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol. my man, how did you get on?” the be true. However, there are several Usually piles will tend to settle doctor asked. medical factors implicated in why down by themselves, over a few The man replied: “No good. You people get piles; namely constipa- days, but if they persist you’ll know you said put them in the back tion and/or prolonged straining, a probably be advised to keep the passage, well we haven’t go a back low fibre diet, and obstruction of skin clean and dry, and to use a passage in our house, so I put them blood flow. cream such as Anusol which helps on the stairs. And for all the good Low fibre diet is often key: food to reduce the size of the piles. The they did for me I might as well have without fibre doesn’t bulk as much cream should only be used for seven stuck them up my backside.” and so the average daily amount of days at a time as it can irritate the Haemorrhoids, or as they are stool produced by a poor western surrounding skin. If severe, consult more commonly known, piles, affect diet is often only half the 80-120g your nurse or GP. nearly half the population at some firm stool produced when eating a Good Health, stage in their lives, and at any age. high fibre diet. ‘Flo’ The Pavement, February 2007 / 19

“Wings? You must be jokin’…ticket touts don’t get wings, mate” 20 / The Pavement, February 2007 Foot care It’s bittersweet, when you have sore feet

It is staggering that one in four people with diabetes can develop ulcers on their feet. If untreated, these can become infected, cause disability and – ultimately – lead to leg amputation. The main reason feet ulcerate is nerve damage called peripheral neuropathy. When this is combined with high pressure on the sole of the foot and repeated rubbing, skin tears are inevitable. A history of foot ulcers, amputation, long-term diabetes, trouble controlling blood glucose, vision problems, smoking and excess drinking are all indicators that the feet are at serious risk. Loss of feeling in the feet (which is common with peripheral neuropathy) can keep people from recognising that there is a problem. Numbness or pins and needles are often the only indication sugar levels are unstable and should never be ignored. Diabetes affects the larger nerve endings responsible for vibration, skin pressure and sharp/ blunt sensations. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications from worsening, so people at risk should have their feet checked regularly (at least once every six months) by their doctor or podiatrist. Some simple tests (right) are used to check for loss of feeling, and the examination only takes a matter of minutes. Nowadays helping people understand the causes and treatments of lifestyle disease involving peripheral neuropathy is the main prevention focus. Better blood glucose control leads to a lower risk of peripheral neuropathy. Stopping smoking and modifying alcohol intake may also help. Well-fitting (comfortable) shoes are essential. ‘Toe Slayer’ The Pavement, February 2007 / 21 Ask Agnes Our agony aunt Agnes answers all

Can you help me? I’m not coping irrational. Such confusion in the down side of this is that we tend to with all the deaths that seem to mourning process is quite usual: for attract people who – like ourselves come my way. many, this may last around a year; – frequently hurt themselves. All for others, the emptiness never they are trying to do, like you, is to The things we try hard to avoid quite leaves. cope with the endless pain that they seem to follow us around: we end I think that homeless people have endured. up coming face-to-face with them have more death to deal with than And with this can come death frequently. This could be what is the average person. Their lifestyle from not having any safety net happening to you now – it’s as and experiences create more and no one to say: “Stop! Danger!”. if death is following you. What is opportunity for complications. Maybe for some, death is a release. scary is that death doesn’t always It may have started at the For the rest of us left behind, it make sense, though we desperately baby stage if you were put into a is often hard – we may just not need it to when our emotions are so care home. How many homes did understand and be left with lots of scrambled. you end up in? How many social unresolved feelings. In the West we are not taught workers and carers came and went, The list of reasons you are not how to deal with death and its without you having the opportunity coping could be endless. All the consequences. Adults offer us little to say goodbye or prepare for their scenarios mentioned above – if any – guidance when we are loss? How many schools where you represent huge losses and children: they don’t know how to began to fit in, only to be moved on bereavements in their own right. deal with it, so how can they be again? How many foster families For all of us, death and grief can be expected to help a child, when in did you make a connection with, uncomfortable, and we may only some way they are like children only to be taken away and given to learn to gauge our feelings when we themselves? So on we all go, as if we strangers? Did your family split up? are going through the experience. are in a dark tunnel with no light to How often did you see your siblings, So when it keeps happening, you guide our way. let alone a parent? Did step-parents are entitled to ask: what tools do I Yet hundreds of books have interfere with your relationship with have to cope with all of this? been written about bereavement your parent? Have you ever stopped to think and grief. They try to give guidance Then, as a grown, up did you that it is not surprising you are on on ways to rationalise the whole wordlessly befriend others like your- overload and your body is saying: spectrum of feelings, for some of self, because there was a natural “Enough! I just can’t take any our reactions may be quite understanding between you? The more!” My suggestion is to talk to others who are going through the loss too. If you will allow yourself, why not take the opportunity to talk things through and begin to give rest to some of your personal demons? Go and treat yourself to some professional help from someone who can help you make some real sense of all these completely understandable confusions. Day centres and your doctor will be able to get you the help you deserve. Good luck… and by the way, I think you’re worth it! ‘Agnes’ “I want to be an impressionist” 22 / The Pavement, February 2007 Good Soup Guide Know where to get it, and what’s good

All Souls’ Local Action Network cooked breakfast is served on the Church 6.10; Hinde Street 6.30; (ASLAN) fourth Sunday. On the Strand Milford Lane 6.45; Strand 7.05; 4 slabs (Charing Cross end, outside Southampton Road 7.30; Victoria Hot food and sandwiches for early Coutt’s). Street; Victoria – Buckingham risers. Sat 5.30am–8.30am – Covent Gate (Sun only); Victoria – behind Garden, Milford Lane, Surrey Street, Imperial College Sainsbury’s (Sun only); Victoria Strand and Waterloo. 3 slabs – Army & Navy 8.15 (Sun) 8 (Mon); Serving sandwiches and hot bever- Grosevenor Gardens (Sun only); The London Run ages on Sunday evenings (8.0pm– Marble Arch 8.45 (Sun) 8.20 (Mon); Mondays (including bank holidays). 9.30pm) at Lincoln’s Inn Fields. Waterloo Bridge 9.15 (Sun) 8.50 Van with tea/coffee, sandwiches, (Mon). eggs, biscuits, soft drinks, clothes, Lincoln’s Inn Fields and toiletries: 8.45am–9.30pm; Mon–Fri: 7.15pm; Many vans with Soup Run: Wed & Thurs (8pm– The Strand, opposite Charing Cross food and occasionally clothing. Sat 10.30pm): Euston – St Pancras police station: 9.30pm–10.15pm; –Sun: 6.15pm onwards. Church 8pm; Hinde Street 8.30pm; Temple: 10.15pm–11.00pm; Maltravers Street 8.50pm; Water- Waterloo (St John’s Church). A New Life Assembly loo – behind NT 9.10pm; Victoria brilliant van & people, and a fitting A run in Hendon, that comes into Street 9.30p,; Victoria – tribute to The Colonel. the West End once a month. Buckingham Gate 9.45pm; Victoria – back of Sainsburys 10pm; Hare Krishna Food for Life Westminster Quaker Tea Run Victoria – Army & Navy 10.10pm The Hare Krishna food run provides It is likely that their tea run (with wholesome and tasty vegetarian sandwiches) that used to cover Street Café: Always in the enclosed meals from Soho and King’s Cross Victoria will be restarted on 26th area at St Mary-Le-Strand (Strand) Temples. The former can be found March. When it does, it’ll be on the – Mon (5pm–7pm) & Wed (10am– at Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Mon–Thurs; Fourth Sunday of the month, at 12.00pm) 7:15pm, finishing at Temple if around 8.30pm. there’s food left. The latter from Silver Lady Fund, a.k.a. ‘The Pie Monday to Saturday all year round: The Sacred Heart Man’ Kentish Town (Islip Road); 12pm: This run from Wimbledon has 4 slabs Camden (Arlington Road); 1pm: several teams coming up once a Piping hot pasties, pies and sausage King’s Cross (York Way) 2.15pm. month to the Piazza of Westminster rolls from the van down behind • We’ve updated this entry to Cathedral. Sandwiches and hot the Festival Hall early mornings reflect the two temples that run the beverages around 9.30pm every (it’s white with ‘Silver Lady Fund’ service. Tuesday and Friday. written on the side).

Harlow Chocolate Run Sai Baba SW London Vineyard – The King’s This run is from Harlow, and serves Third Sunday of the Month: 93 Table hot chocolate! They also have Guildford Street, WC1 (Coram’s 3 slabs sandwiches and cakes, coming Fields); 11am–1pm. Vegetarian Sun 2.30pm–4.30pm beneath out on the Second Tuesday of the meal and tea. Another branch of Waterloo Bridge (Embankment). month. Behind the Army and Navy this sect also have a service at Lin- Superb hot stews and potatoes, in Victoria. coln’s Inn Fields – a great curry! bread, fruit, and tea and coffee.

House of Bread – The Vision Simon Community 3 slabs 4 slabs Second and fourth Sunday in the Tea Run: Sun & Mon (6.00pm– month (6.45am onwards) – Hot 9.30am): Islington – St Mary’s Please note, soup kitchens are food; note that an excellent full Church 6am; Euston – St Pancras listed on page 29. The Pavement, February 2007 / 23 24 / The Pavement, February 2007

Key to the list: Debt advice – DA Luggage stowage – LS Accom assistance – AS Dentist – DT Medical services – MS Advocacy – AD Drugs workers – D Mental health – MH Alcohol workers – A Education/training – ET Music classes – MC Art classes – AC Free food – FF Needle exchange – NE Barber – B Food – F Outreach worker links – OL Benefits advice – BA Foot care – FC Outreach workers – OB Bathroom/showers – BS Housing/accom advice – H Pavement stockists – P Bedding available – BE Internet access – IT Safe keeping – SK Careers advice – CA Laundry – L Sexual health advice – SH Clothing – CL Leisure activities – LA SSAFA – SS Counselling – C Leisure facilities – LF Tenancy support – TS

No new services have been added A, BA, C, CL, D, ET, H, MC BENEFITS AGENCY this issue, but with new stockists taken on every month we’ll expand Notre Dame Refugee Centre Southwark Homeless Unit more in March. As always The 5 Leceister Pl, WC2H 7BX Wedge Hse Pavement needs your help. If 020 7434 1619 36–40 Blackfriars Rd, SE1 8PB you notice any omissions or any Mon and Thurs: 11am–4pm (drop- 020 7902 8600 mistakes, please email Phil Lee at in) Service for French-speaking [email protected] refugees and asylum seekers DAY CENTRES AND DROP-INS BA, C, CA, FF, H ADVICE SERVICES Ace of Clubs (16+) No 10 – Care Advice Service St Alphonsus Rd, Clapham Borderline (for Scots) 10 Princess St 020 7622 3196 7–9 Belgrave Rd, SW1V 1QB Oxford Circus, W1C 2DJ Sun, Mon &Tues: 2pm–6pm; Wed & 0845 456 2344 (advice line) 020 7629 5424 Thurs: 12 noon–2pm; Fri & Sat: 12 Mon–Fri: 9.30am–10.30am (drop-in Wed: 6.30pm–8pm (drop in – 18+) noon–6pm advice service); 9.30am–4.30am BA, C, CA, ET, H BS, DT, F, FC, H, IT, L, MS, OB, P (appointments). Closed Wed pm A, BA, C, CL, D, H, MH, P ScotsCare (for Scots in London) Acton Homeless Concern 37 King St Emmaus Hse CHAS (Central London) Covent Garden, WC2E 8JS 1 Berrymead Gardens, Acton 19–20 Shroton St, NW1 6UG Call the helpline on 0800 6522 989 020 8992 5768 020 7723 5928 BA, C, CA, H, B, P, TS Call for opening times Housing and debt advice, by A, B, BA, CL, D, DT, ET, F, FC appointment only St Giles Trust 64 Camberwell Church St, SE5 Aldgate Advice Centre KCAH 020 7703 7000 See Providence Row (The Dellow 36a Fife Rd Mon–Fri: 9.30am–12.30pm Centre) Kingston, KT1 1SU A, BA, BS, D, ET, H, L, MH, MS, P, TS 020 8255 2439 Broadway Day Centre Housing advice and accomodation Women’s Link Market Lane, Shepherds Bush Rm 417, London Fruit & Wool 020 8735 5810 London Irish Centre Exchange Mon–Fri: 9.30am–2.30pm (drop-in); 50–52 Camden Sq, NW1 9XB Brushfield St, E1 8.30am–4.30pm (breakfast for 020 7916 2222 020 7248 1200 (ring first) rough sleepers) Ring for service times AS, BA, H CL, ET, F, FC, H, MS, P The Pavement, February 2007 / 25

Bromley 999 Club (advice); 12pm–3.30pm (drop-in); Cricklewood Homeless Concern 424 Downham Way, 12 noon–1pm (sandwiches). 020 8961 8599 Downham, BR1 5HR AC, BA, BS, CA, CL, C, ET, FF, H, IT, L, Homeless drop-in: 28a Fortunegate 020 8698 9403 LA, LF, MC Rd, Craven Park. Mon–Fri: 10am –5pm Women only Tues & Fri: 10am–2.30pm; Weds & Thurs: AD, L, FF Thurs: 12.30pm–2.30pm The Connection at St Martin’s Mental health drop-in: in flat Cardinal Hume Centre 12 Adelaide St, WC2 above St Gabriel’s Hall Arneway St, SW1 020 7766 5544 77 Chichele Rd, Cricklewood, NW2 020 7222 8593 Mon–Fri: 9am–1pm (12.30pm 3AQ Mon–Fri: 9.30am–12 noon & Wed). Various afternoon sessions Tues–Fri: 10am–12 noon. 1.30pm–4.30pm (drop-in – 16–25); from 1pm (except Wed). Weekends: AC, BA, BS, H, IT, L, MS, OL Mon–Thurs: 10am–3.30pm (family 9am–1pm (no entry after 10.30am). centre, with pre-school children) There are also drop-in sessions on Crisis Skylight A, BA, C, D, DT, ET, H, IT, MH, MS, Tues & Thurs 4.30pm–7.30pm. See Performing Arts P, SH A, AC, BA, BS, CA, CL, D, ET, F, FC, H, IT, MC, MH, MS, OB, P, SK, SS Deptford Churches Centre Choral Hall Lifeskills Centre Now a mixed service, and due to Speedwell St, Deptford 310 Barking Rd, Plaistow be running from portacabins. 020 8692 6548 020 7511 8377 Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri: 9am–3.30 Mon–Fri: 10am–2pm Croydon Resource Centre pm A, BA, BS, C, CL, D, F, FC, L, M 70a Wellesley Rd, Croydon BS, ET, F, H, L 020 8686 1222 Church Army, Women’s Day Mon–Fri: 10am –3pm Finsbury Park Centre AS, BA, CA, CL ET, F, IT, LA Street Drinkers Initiative 1–5 Cosway St, NW1 See Whitaker Centre 020 7262 3818 Mon–Thurs: 9.30am–12pm Hackney 180 First Contact & Advice See Thames Reach

The Dunloe Centre – The Tab Centre St Saviours Priory Dunloe St, E2 Call Tab Centre for details

Hanbury Community Project (SCT) 22a Hanbury St Spitalfields, E1 020 7377 2497 Wed–Thurs: 10.00am–4.00pm AC, BA, C, ET, IT, P

The Haven Club At the Holy Cross Centre. Mon: 6pm–10pm For self-treating drug & alcohol users: no using on day or no entry

Holy Cross Centre The Crypt, Holy Cross Church Cromer St, WC1 020 7278 8687 Mon: 2pm–5pm; Tues: 6.15pm– “you’re fired!” 9pm; (ticket required) Thurs: 5pm– 26 / The Pavement, February 2007

8pm (Italian speakers session); Fri: 020 7375 0020 Spitalfield’s Crypt Trust/The Tab 12 noon–3pm (refugees and asylum Mon–Fri: 9.15am–11.30am (for Centre seekers session). rough sleepers) & 1.30pm–3.30pm See Hanbury and Shoreditch AC, FF, H, IT, LA, LF, MH, P (appointments & activities); Fri: Community Projects 3pm–4pm (for rough sleepers) Kings Cross Baptist Church A, BA, BS, CL, D, ET, F, H, L, MH, MS, P St Christopher’s Centre Vernon Sq, W1 Lime Grove Resourch Centre, 47 020 7837 7182 Rochester Row Day Centre Lime Grove, W12 Mon; Fri: 11am–2pm; Tues: 97 Rochester Row, SW1 Please call for opening times: 020 11am–1pm 020 7233 9862 8740 9182 FF, LF Mon & Fri: 5.30pm–8pm AC, BS, CA, ET, FC, IT, L, MS (appointments only); Tues: 2pm- Manna Day Centre 4.30pm (art workshop); Wed and St Cuthbert’s Centre 6 Melior St, SE1 Thurs: 5.30pm–8pm (drop-in); The Philbeach Hall 020 7403 1931 Thurs: 1pm–5pm (benefits); Thurs & 51 Philbeach Gdns, Earls Court Mon–Sun: 8.30am–1.30pm Fri 2pm–4pm (English classes) 020 7835 1389 AD, B, BA, BS, CL, DT, FF, FC, H, MH, AC, BA, BS, CL, ET, FF, P Mon–Fri: 11.45am–3.45pm MS, P AC, BS, C,CL, F, H, IT, L, OL, P Shoreditch Community Project New Cross 999 Club – The Tab Centre St Stephen’s Church All Saints St Leonard’s Church The Manna Monson Rd, SE14 Shoreditch High St, E1 17 Canonbury Rd, N1 2DF 020 7732 0209 020 7613 3232 020 7226 5369 Mon–Fri: 10am–5pm Mon & Wed; 9.30am–12.30pm Tues: 7pm–9pm (drop-in); Weds: Ad, ET, FF, L, LA, FF, BA, OL, P 1pm–3pm (drop-in – B and FC); Fri: 10am–1pm (drop-in) North Lambeth Day Centre Simon Community BS, CL, FC, FF, L, P Closed House of Hospitality 129 Malden Rd, NW5 The Tab Centre North London Action for the Mon: 11am–4pm; Wed & Thursday: 20 Hackney Rd, Shoreditch, E2 Homeless (NLAH) 3pm–8pm 020 7613 3232 Church Hall So much more than a drop-in Friday: 9.30am–12.30pm 24–30 Bouverie Rd, N16 centre, and they’ve many services CL, FF 020 8802 1600 listed with the soup runs. Tue: 12pm–1.30pm; Thurs: Thames Reach 7pm–8.30pm Spectrum Centre Now called Hackney 180 First BA, BS, CL, FF, P 6 Greenland St, NW1 Contact & Advice 020 7267 4937 Venue 1: The Passage (25+) Mon–Fri: 9.30am–3pm Hackney Methodist Church St Vincent’s Centre, A, BS, C, CL, D, FC, H, L, LS, MH, MS, 219 Mare St, E5 Carlisle Place, SW1P P, TS 0208 985 6707 020 7592 1850 Mon–Thurs: 8am–9.30am Mon–Fri: 7am–10.30am (for Spires Centre (breakfast club) rough sleepers); 10.30am–12pm 8 Tooting Bec Gardens Venue 2: (appointments); 12 noon–1.30pm 020 8696 0943 St Johns at Hackney (lunch, small fee); 2pm–5pm Tues & Thurs: 9am–10.30am (rough Lower Clapton Rd, E5 (appointments); 5pm–7pm (verified sleepers only), 10.30am–2pm Mon–Wed: 10.30am–12.30pm rough sleepers, by invitation) (drop-in); Wed: 10am–12pm (advice service) & 1.30pm–3pm A, BA, CA, CL, D, ET, F, FC, H, IT, L, (rough sleepers), 10am–1pm (adult (appointments) MH, MS, P, TS learning centre); Fri: 10am–1pm BA, BS, CL, ET, F, H, IT, MS No smoking (women only); Sun: 11.30am–3pm (drop-in) Providence Row A, BA, CL, D, ET, FF, FC, H, MC, MH, The Dellow Centre MS, P 82 Wentworth St Aldgate, E1 7SA The Pavement, February 2007 / 27

Triumphant Church International 6–8 Webber St, SE1 8QA Daily: 6am–11am (cooked breakfast 136 West Green Rd 020 7928 1677 8am–10am) South Tottenham, N15 5AD Mon–Fri: 9am–12pm BS, CL, FF, MS, OL 020 8800 6001 B, BA, BS, CL, FF, H, MS, P Sun: 10am–11am (open drop-in) Reopened with improved services DIRECT ACCESS HOSTELS/ AD, C, FF West London Day Centre NIGHTSHELTERS 134–136 Seymour Place, W1H Union Chapel (Margins) 020 7569 5900 All – low-support needs Compton Terrace, Upper St, N1 Mon–Fri: 8.45am–10am (rough 020 7359 4019 sleepers drop-in); Mon–Fri: 10am– Livingstone House Sun: 3pm–5pm 11.30am (drop-in, hostel residents 105 Melville Rd, Brent NW10 8BU BS, CL, FF, HA, L, LA, LF join); Mon–Fri: 11.45am–12.45pm 020 8963 0545 (advice, appointments only); Mon & Ring first. Local connection only Upper Holloway Baptist Church Thur: 1.30pm–3.30pm (drop-in for 11 Tollington Way, N7 those with tenancies) Redbridge Night Shelter 020 7272 2104 AC, BA, BS, C, CL, F, IT, L, LS, MS, OL, 16 York Rd, Ilford Mon: 10.30am–1.30pm P, SK, TS IG1 3AD CL, FF, LF 020 8514 8958 The Whitaker Centre Ring first Upper Room, St Saviour’s 91–93 Tollington Way, N7 Cobbold Rd, W12 020 7272 8195 St Martin’s Night Centre 020 8740 5688 Mon–Thurs: 9am–3pm 12 Adelaide St, Westminster Mon–Thur: 5.30pm–6.45pm; Tue: Alcohol allowed 020 7766 5544 9.30am–11.45am; Sat–Sun: 12.30 BS, FF, L 10pm–7.30am pm–1.30pm Referral from St Martin’s A, BA, C, CA, D, ET, FC, FF, H, P Whitechapel Mission 212 Whitechapel Rd, E1 Turnaround (Newham) Waterloo Christian Centre 020 7247 8280 Choral Hall

“I’m afraid I’ve been nominated to inform you that your team’s infested with head-lice, Dr Grace” 28 / The Pavement, February 2007

020 7511 8377 Women DRUG / ALCOHOL SERVICES 7.30pm–7.30am Addaction (Harm Reduction Team) Referral from Choral Hall Day Centre Church Army 228 Cambridge Heath Rd, E2 1–5 Cosway St, Westminster NW1 020 8880 7780 Waltham Forest Churches Night 5NR Drop-in: Mon, Fri 10am–4pm; Tues, Shelter 020 7262 3818 Wed & Thurs 12 noon–6pm; 740 Forest Rd, Walthamstow Ring first. Daily vacancies Closed each day 1.30pm–2.15pm E17 3HR Home of Peace D, OL, MS, NE, SH 020 8509 4687 179 Bravington Rd, W9 3AR Ring or visit Mon–Fri: 10am–4pm 020 8969 2631 Angel Drug Services Drop-in Women only. Open access (dry) 332c Goswell Rd, EC1V 7LQ Men 0800 169 2679 St Mungo’s Mon–Fri: 2pm–5pm Missionaries of Charity 2–5 Birkenhead St, Camden WC1H C, OB, MS, NE 112–116 St Georges Rd, Southwark 020 7278 6466 020 7401 8378 Blackfriars Road CDAT Team Ring first, 9am–11am except Thurs Young people (16–21) 151 Blackfriars Rd, SE1 8EL Age 30+ (low support) 020 7620 1888/ 6500 Centrepoint Mon: 2pm–4pm (drop-in) St. Mungo’s (Ennersdale House) 25 Berwick St, Westminster W1F MH, MS, NE 1a Arlington Close, Lewisham SE13 8RF 6JQ 020 7287 9134/5 Central and NW London 020 8318 5521 (ring first) Ring first. Daily vacancies Substance Misuse Service Medium-support needs Crowther Market MASH 282 North End Rd, SW6 1NH 8 Wilton Rd, Merton SW19 2HB 020 7381 7700 020 8543 3677 Mon–Fri: 9am–5pm Ring first C, MS

Volunteers needed to help distribute The Pavement by bicycle

Volunteers needed to help count up We’re looking for a couple of volunteers and contact Soup runs from our readership, rough sleepers or hostel residents, who will help in our trial UNLEASH is organising a week of to deliver this magazine by courier-trike. counting up and contacting all the soup runs in London. The purpose is to We cannot say where this will lead if suc- encourage everyone to join the soup run cessful, but initially we will only pay ex- forum, and to get an up to date figure of penses and provide a fortifying breakfast. how many groups there are. If you’re fit, can read a map, and want to If you can spare an evening between help out, contact us with your details: th th Monday 26 February and Sunday 4 PO Box 43675 March please contact Alastair Murray London on 020 7723 7273 ext. 242 or email SE22 8YL [email protected] [email protected] The Pavement, February 2007 / 29

Druglink MEDICAL SERVICES Workshops at Crisis Skylight. 103a Devonport Rd, Shepherds Programme from Bush, W12 8PB Great Chapel Street Medical www.cardboardcitizens.org.uk 020 8749 6799 Centre Mon–Fri: 10am–5pm (needle 13 Great Chapel St, W1 Streetwise Opera exchange and telephone service); 020 7437 9360 020 7495 3133 Mon & Fri: 2pm–5pm & Wed: Mon–Fri: 2pm–4pm; Mon, Tues & PA, MC 3pm–6pm (drop-in) Thurs: 11am–12.30pm Workshops at the Passage, Skylight C, D, OL, NE A, B, C, D, DT, FC, H, MH, MS, P, SH and the Connection at St Martin’s www.streetwiseopera.org The Hungerford Drug Project Dr Hickey’s – Cardinal Hume (Turning Point) Centre SOUP KITCHENS 32a Wardour St, W1D 6QR Arneway St, SW1 Mon–Fri: 2pm–5pm (drop-in) 020 72228593 All Saints Church 020 7287 8743 Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri: 10am– Carnegie St, N1 C, D, MH, P 12.30pm & 2pm–4pm 020 7837 0720 Wed: 10am–12.30pm Tues & Thurs: 10am–12pm EASTERN EUROPEANS A, B, C, D, DT, H, MH, MS, P, SH Cooked breakfast

Ania’s Poland Recruitment Health E1 American Church Agency 9–11 Brick Lane, E1 (Entrance in Whitfield St) 31 Fallsbrook Rd, Streatham 020 7247 0090 79a Tottenham Court Rd, W1T 020 8769 0509 Mon–Thurs: 9.15am–11.30am 020 7580 2791 Ring for appointment Friday: 10.30am–12.30pm; Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri & Sat: Mon, Wed & Fri afternoons 10am–12pm UR4JOBS – appointments only; closed P Running twice a week from the 1pm–2pm daily Upper Room, Cobbold Road. Call for Bloomsbury Central Baptist details - more details next issue. King’s Cross Primary Care Centre Church 264 Pentonville Rd, N1 235 Shaftesbury Ave, WC2 8EP EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING 020 7530 3444 020 7240 0544 B, BS, CL, DT, FC, H, MH, MS, NE, Sunday: Roast lunch 1pm Dress for Success (Women) P, SH 10.30am for ticket (very limited) Unit 2, Shepperton Hse 89–93 Shepperton Rd, N1 3DF Project London (Médecins du City Temple 020 7288 1770 Monde) Holborn Viaduct, EC1A 2DE www.dressforsuccess.org Pott St, Bethnal Green, E2 0EF 020 7583 5532 Smart clothing for job interviews Mon & Wed: 1pm–5pm Mon–Fri: 1pm–2pm 07974 616 852 £3 voucher (1 per week) redeemable OSW (London Bridge) MS, SH at local café. ID required 4th Floor, The Pavilion Project London also operates at 1 Newhams Row, SE1 3UZ Providence Row and U-Turn Emmanuel Church (Stratford) 020 7089 2722 Corner of Romford Rd & Upton Lane CA, ET, IT PERFORMING ARTS Thurs: 7.30am (booked breakfast)

EX-FORCES Crisis Skylight Muswell Hill Baptist Church 66 Commercial St, E1 2 Dukes Ave, N10 Ex-Service Fellowship Centre 020 7426 5661 020 8883 8520 40 Buckingham Palace Rd, Victoria Mon–Thurs: 2pm–9.30pm Sun–Thurs; 7.45am–8.45pm 020 7828 2468 AC, ET, IT, MC, P, PA AS, BA, CL Workshop programme from Our Lady of Hal • 75 years, and going strong. www.crisis.org.uk 165 Arlington Rd, NW1 020 7485 2727 AWOL? Call the ‘reclaim your Cardboard Citizens Tues, Weds, Fri & Sat: 12.45pm– life’ scheme from SSAFA on 01380 020 7247 7747 2pm 738137 (Mon–Fri: 9am–10am). PA 30 / The Pavement, February 2007

Salvation Army (King’s Cross) SEASONAL SHELTERS Finchley Area Churches Winter Faith Hse, 11 Argyle St, WC1 Shelter 020 7837 5149 Camden and Clerkenwell Various venues Mon: 5.30pm–7pm (men-only drop- Various churches 020 8446 8400 in); Tues–Fri: 2pm–3pm (women- 07908 131518 03 Jan – 30 April 07 only drop-in); 01 Jan – 31 Mar 07 8pm – 8am. Last admission 10pm Weds: 7.45pm–9pm (open drop-in); 8pm – 8.30am, arrive by 9pm. Age 18+ Mixed Thurs: 12.30pm (hot meal) Age 18+, mixed, beds for 15 Beds for 15 (separate area for women) Referral from Homeless Action in St John’s Ealing Local referral only. Barnet Mattock Lane, West Ealing Dry: no smoking Dry W13 9LA 020 8566 3507 Croydon Churches Floating Hackney Winter Night Shelter Sat & Sun: 4pm–5pm Shelter Various churches Various churches (7 from 01 Nov; 07962 447373 St John the Evangelist 15 from Jan) 01 Jan – 31 Mar 07 39 Duncan Terrace, N1 8AL 020 8774 9872 (office) 8pm – 8am 020 7226 3277 07914 988208 (out of hours) Age 16+, mixed, beds for 15 Tues–Sat: 12.30pm–1.30pm Mobile switched off if no vacancies Self or agency referrals: 1st come 01 Nov – 31 Mar 07; 7.30pm – 8am. 1st served. St Mary’s Church Islington Last admission 9pm, age 18+, Dry Upper St, N1 mixed, beds for 14 020 7354 3427 Local referral only Islington Churches Cold Weather Mon: 11.30am–2pm Dry Shelter Various venues 07960 491151 01 Jan – 31 Mar 07 7.30pm – 8.30am, arrive before 8.30pm Age 18+, mixed, beds for 15 (separate area for women) Self or agency referrals. Phone 1pm – 9pm to check Dry

Turnaround Project 0207 511 8377 Open all year 7.30pm – 7.30am Mixed, beds for 25 Referrals from Choral Hall Day Centre Dry

Waltham Forest Churches Winter Shelter 0208 509 4687 (Day centre) 0208 509 4674 (Nightshelter) www.wfcns.org.uk

West London Churches Winter Shelter Various venues Priority for those in the Hammersmith, Fulham, and “Ice-lolly, Prime Minister?” Kensington and Chelsea. The Pavement, February 2007 / 31

0207 351 4948 The Samaritans (Mon – Fri 9am – 5pm); 14 Nov – 01 08457 90 9090 Apr 07 8pm – 7am, with last admission at Shelter 8pm 0808 800 4444 16+, mixed, beds for 35 (separate Housing info and advice area for women) 8am–12am daily Self referrals; must phone first. Dry Eaves 020 7735 2062 SOCIAL EVENTS Helps victims of trafficking for prostitution ASLAN All Souls Church – Clubhouse Poppy Cleveland St 020 7840 7141 020 7580 3522 Helps women who have been Adam Kershaw Sat eve: by invitation trafficked for sexual exploitation Age at disappearance: 31

SPECIALIST SERVICES UK Human Trafficking Centre Thirty one-year-old Adam has 0114 252 3891 been missing from Lambeth, nd Quaker Mobile Library south London since 22 Sep- Every second Mon: North Lambeth WEBSITES tember 2006. Although there was a possible sighting of Day Centre (Waterloo); The Adam in the Vauxhall area on Christian Centre in Webber St Homeless London Directory (RIS) the 18th December, Adam has (behind the Old Vic); and The Although updated irregularly not been heard from since. Manna Centre (the busiest stop). this public access website has Every Sat morning: The Passage and full details of all major services His sister is greatly concerned St Martin’s in London, including emergency for Adam’s welfare and is accommodation. anxious to know that he is TELEPHONE SERVICES www.homelesslondon.org OK. She urges him to make contact with someone to Domestic Violence Helpline The Pavement reassure his loved ones of 0808 2000 247 Regularly updated online version of his wellbeing. Adam can call ‘The List’ the Message Home Helpline Frank www.thepavement.org.uk/ on Freefone 0800 700 740 0800 776 600 services.htm where he can leave a confi- Free 24-hr drug helpline dential message.

Adam is 6’ 2”, slim with dark Get Connected brown, curly hair and brown 0808 808 4994 eyes. He is likely to have a Free advice for young people beard now. When last seen, (1pm–7pm daily) Adam, who walks with a stoop, was wearing a black Message Home Helpline shirt, black trainers and black 0800 700 740 trousers that rest above his 24 hrs daily ankles.

National Debtline If you have seen Adam 0808 808 4000 contact the confidential National Missing Persons Runaway Helpline Helpline on Freefone 0500 0808 800 7070 700 700 Free line for under-18s who have Phil Lee left home 32 / The Pavement, February 2007