Homeless 'left in limbo' by lockdown

Homeless people in Derby ready for long-term accommodation have found themselves in limbo due to the lockdown, a charity says.
Lockdown has prevented some homeless people from being able to get off the streets. Photo: Victoria JonesLockdown has prevented some homeless people from being able to get off the streets. Photo: Victoria Jones
Lockdown has prevented some homeless people from being able to get off the streets. Photo: Victoria Jones

The Padley Group, based in Derby, also says that the vulnerable and homeless people it supports are struggling with mental health issues during lockdown.

It welcomes the help that homeless people have been given during lockdown, with Derby Homes taking all those that accepted support off the streets.

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The Padley Group’s 12-room hostel in the city is still housing tenants and providing them with vital support, food and toiletries, but its day centre is closed.

Kerry Collyer, the charity’s fundraising and marketing coordinator, is usually office-based, but is now helping hostel residents four or five days a week during lockdown.

Around half of the charity’s staff are self-isolating or shielding at-risk family members.

Kerry, who has worked for the charity for nine years, said: “ Some of our gentlemen are finally in the right place and ready to move on into new long-term accommodation but can’t at the moment due to lockdown, so they are in limbo at the moment.

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“As soon as this is over we will look to find them suitable accommodation.

“Mentally, it is a struggle for them, like all of us, to stay inside in lockdown, to stay at home and not go out and not see friends.

“They are just human beings like the rest of us. They struggle like everyone else.

“The objective is to find all of them permanent accommodation but some just are not ready to do that – not all are ready to take on a tenancy.

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“Having our day centre closed has allowed us to focus on our tenants full-time, to talk to them more, it’s that kind of support which is really needed.

People have been so generous, one person donated an Xbox and we’ve also had a table tennis table.

“We’ve been out doing gardening and the tenants have been helping us to sort donations.

“When we receive a donation we isolate it for 72 hours before going through it.”

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When asked what she feels the situation will be like for Derby’s homeless after lockdown ends and they are no longer being housed in the city’s hotels by the local authority, Kerry simply said ‘time will tell, we shall see’.

She added the charity would continue to help support the homeless just as it did before and is confident they can find places for them all to call home.

The Padley Homeless Centre in Becket Street accepts donations between 8am and 1pm on Mondays.

It is currently in need of produce such as bread, eggs and bacon, along with small and medium men’s and women’s clothes, particularly underwear and shoes.

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A fundraising page has been set up by the charity, largely to help it with the higher operating cost of running its hostel at full capacity.

It said: “We find ourselves in very challenging times as we put in place plans to keep the people who use our services, those most vulnerable in society, who are in a high-risk and vulnerable group regarding the impact of Covid-19.

“We already have incurred additional costs in order to make some changes to our services, we expect there to be considerably more as our staff self-isolate to protect themselves, their families and the people who use our services.

“The additional costs of maintaining access to a toilet, a shower, a change of clothes, a hot meal, primary healthcare and appropriate support into suitable accommodation are immeasurable.”

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