Framework charity launches an urgent winter appeal ahead of World’s Homeless Day
A charity has launched an urgent appeal to save vital street outreach services as its funding faces a £189,122 shortfall.
Framework has launched its Winter SOS appeal ahead of World’s Homeless Day (October 10) as an attempt to plug the gap and protect its lifesaving services.
The charity working to help rough sleepers off the streets of Nottinghamshire to save its street outreach services as numbers sleeping rough have soared by 35%.
Claire Eden, Framework’s head of Fundraising and Communications, said: “We need more resources, staff and specialist workers to address and meet the needs of the people we find sleeping rough.
“As recently as this summer, we found a family with young children sleeping on the streets.
“Our Winter Appeal SOS is a distress call. A call for urgent help and assistance.”
Claire added: “It is very important to Framework that we continue to meet the current need but also that we develop the services and respond to emerging and specific needs.
“Such as the needs of a growing number of women who are homeless but who are ‘hidden’ from services because of their need to stay safe from the perils of visibly sleeping rough.
“Perils such as sexual and physical abuse and harassment.”
Members of the team visit different boroughs and districts across the county each day, as well as checking on priority cases - providing life-saving support and advice for hundreds of people who are sleeping rough.
People can donate to Framework’s Winter Appeal at www.frameworkha.org/SOS.
Richard Stafford, team leader of Framework’s Street Outreach Team in Nottinghamshire, said: “Our team works with rough sleepers in all the boroughs and districts of Nottinghamshire in towns like Mansfield, Newark and Worksop but also in country areas, to find, support and advise people who are sleeping rough.
“The number of sleeping rough has been increasing for some time and continues to increase significantly.
“We know the trauma and risk faced by rough sleepers so it is vital that we can continue to be there to support them and avoid people putting themselves in the life-threatening position of sleeping not only on the streets but hidden away in car parks, cemeteries, quarries, building sites or wherever they can find shelter and relative safety.
“Rough sleeping is the tip of the homelessness iceberg - what happens when people run out of options.”
The public is asked to use Framework’s 24-hour free hotline number 0800 066 5356 to alert them if they come across someone sleeping rough or to contact the charity if they find themselves on the streets.
