City of Wolverhampton Council and its partners are marking the day on Saturday (October 10) with joint working and awareness raising events, as well as letting people know of the support available for them all year round.
On Thursday (October 8), the West Midlands Combined Authority, in partnership with the council and the Good Shepherd, will be bringing faith and community groups together to discuss how to best support those affected by poverty and homelessness in the city.
The event will also focus on addiction recovery, with presentations from SUIT and Recovery Near You, and takes place at The Good Shepherd from 10am to 11.30am.
On Saturday, the Good Shepherd will be hosting an open day at its base, at 65 Waterloo Rd, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QU.
The free event will be an opportunity to learn more about homelessness in Wolverhampton, discover the wide range of services and activities delivered by Good Shepherd, and meet the staff, volunteers and people who help make its work possible.
Visitors will also be able to take a guided tour of the facilities and find out how to get involved through volunteering, fundraising, partnerships and donations.
Ongoing support for people experiencing homelessness, for anyone worried about losing their home or needing help to move forward is available from P3’s Homeless Service.
The service has recently moved to a new base at 4 Waterloo Road, WV1 4BL, and forms part of the support the charity offers in the city, including its Navigator and Street Outreach Team, Housing First, tenancy sustainment support, supported accommodation and other housing services for people with different levels of need.
Saturday also marks World Mental Health Day and homelessness is often interlinked. Mental health issues can often make it difficult for a person to secure or maintain accommodation without support, and housing and financial insecurity can worsen mental health problems.
Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for City Housing and Assets, said: “World Homeless Day is a chance to reflect on the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and to highlight the help available to support them towards a more stable future.
“There is rarely a single cause of homelessness, and addressing it effectively depends on strong collaboration between local services, charities and community partners.
“Together, we are providing a range of support, from outreach and mental health services to help finding and sustaining accommodation. Our shared goal is to make a positive difference to people’s lives and ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
If you would like to take action to help, Alternative Giving gathers donations online or through its cash donation points and 2 ‘tap to donate’ points in the city centre. 100% of these donations are then directed to organisations and charities that work in Wolverhampton City Centre to provide long term support for people in the most need.
Find out more at Wolverhampton Change.
For housing and homelessness advice, visit Homelessness. If you are homeless, or are at risk of becoming homeless very soon, contact Homeless Services on 01902 556789 (option 2) or via Homeless.services@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Seen someone sleeping rough? Connect them with support by making a referral through StreetLink.
For information about support services for homeless people see Street Support Wolverhampton.
Good Shepherd Wolverhampton and P3 offer support programmes for those in crisis and people experiencing homelessness, including help with accessing accommodation.
