Eradicating homelessness to allow people to enjoy a fulfilling life is for the betterment of all
As we go into what is likely to be a long, cold and wet winter, with homes ravaged by the recent storms, it is right that we consider those who are struggling but who, given an opportunity, want to achieve more and deserve better
•Last year’s Sanctuary Trust Sleep Out in Pier Road car park
Robert Surcouf
AS a person who enjoys their creature comforts, I am a little apprehensive about sleeping out in Pier Road car park this Friday in support of Sanctuary Trust, so I will benefit from the friendly atmosphere that this event has become known for while highlighting the plight of too many within our community and raising some much-needed funds.
The challenges of affordable housing and the various factors that can lead to homelessness have been a challenge for many years and they are not easily solved.
Recently we have seen far greater focus on clearly defining what homelessness looks like and its causes. Hopefully our government will continue to work with the third sector as well as the wider community to try to eradicate homelessness within our community.
Thankfully the positive approach that we currently see being taken locally is in sharp contrast to some of the statements and initiatives that we are seeing the other side of the Channel. It is concerning when a Home Secretary refers to homelessness as a ‘lifestyle choice’ and even worse advocates that the tents some homeless individuals are using should be removed and destroyed. For many this is the last refuge and for a Home Secretary to show such lack of empathy is concerning.
It is always easy to reflect on personal achievements and believe that others could have had the same success hadthey only been willing to try, but such an attitude tends to come from a place of ignorance. The reality is that life can be challenging and events such as redundancy or the break-up of a relationship can quickly lead to economic stress and a downward spiral that is hard to get out of without a helping hand or a bit of luck.
In the late 1970s my father had a serious crop failure that left him facing possible bankruptcy and he worked very hard to make sure that did not happen. Things continued to be very difficult, and he started suffering from depression. As a youngster this was very hard to watch, unable to do anything to help beyondreminding him how much he was loved.
At that time things only improved due to an unexpected small inheritance from an elderly aunt. For other family members their inheritance was a fancy holiday or a new car but for our family it saved the farm and kept our family together. Without that lifeline I am sure our family life would have become far harder.
When I go to take flowers to my parents’ grave, I still say a thank you to Aunty Anna, who is buried nearby in the same cemetery, for unknowingly making that difference. Sadly, not everyone benefits when they need it most.
Taking part in the Sleep Out is a small glimpse of what sleeping rough must be like, but we will all get to go home and have a warm shower and probably catch up on the lack of sleep, knowing that there is a warm drink and food waiting for us.
The reality for those who are homeless is that this experience can be a common occurrence.
About eight years ago I went to Guernsey with my then employer for a few days and was chatting to a relatively new colleague who had joined the business. He was very bright and determined to do well and was not afraid of putting the hours in at work and was also studying.
I took him for lunch, which was when he opened up that he had been sofa surfing for over six months as he had not been able to find affordable accommodation due to his housing status.
This was quite a shock at the time but when looking into the housing situation and speaking to others it became clear that this was not an isolated case. Sadly, he eventually decided that he needed to leave the island as the challenge of housing was too difficult to overcome.
As we go into what is likely to be a long, cold and wet winter, with homes ravaged by the recent storms, it is right that we consider those who are struggling but who, given an opportunity, want to achieve more and deserve better. We are lucky that Jersey does have an excellent number of very capable charities that can play a very active role in not only helping those who are currently homeless but also helping prevent many more from ever falling into such sad circumstances.
These organisations, such as Sanctuary Trust and many others, are often far better placed to engage with individuals who have been challenged by authority and challenging personal circumstances.
While many support these charities with both time and donations it is still important that they benefit from taxpayer funding to deliver on agreed key performance indicators to reduce and eventually eradicate homelessness and allow more of these individuals to enjoy a fulfilling and productive life in this island home we share, as that is for the betterment of all.
•Robert Surcouf comes from a Jersey farming family, though his mother was Spanish and moved to Jersey in the 1960s. He became an accountant and now specialises in risk and enterprise management. A father of two schoolage children, he still helps organise and participates in local motorsport events and was one of the founding members of Better Way 2022 before the last election.
The views expressed are his own.
The challenges of affordable housing and the various factors that can lead to homelessness have been a challenge for many years and they are not easily solved.
Recently we have seen far greater focus on clearly defining what homelessness looks like and its causes. Hopefully our government will continue to work with the third sector as well as the wider community to try to eradicate homelessness within our community.
Thankfully the positive approach that we currently see being taken locally is in sharp contrast to some of the statements and initiatives that we are seeing the other side of the Channel. It is concerning when a Home Secretary refers to homelessness as a ‘lifestyle choice’ and even worse advocates that the tents some homeless individuals are using should be removed and destroyed. For many this is the last refuge and for a Home Secretary to show such lack of empathy is concerning.
It is always easy to reflect on personal achievements and believe that others could have had the same success hadthey only been willing to try, but such an attitude tends to come from a place of ignorance. The reality is that life can be challenging and events such as redundancy or the break-up of a relationship can quickly lead to economic stress and a downward spiral that is hard to get out of without a helping hand or a bit of luck.
In the late 1970s my father had a serious crop failure that left him facing possible bankruptcy and he worked very hard to make sure that did not happen. Things continued to be very difficult, and he started suffering from depression. As a youngster this was very hard to watch, unable to do anything to help beyondreminding him how much he was loved.
At that time things only improved due to an unexpected small inheritance from an elderly aunt. For other family members their inheritance was a fancy holiday or a new car but for our family it saved the farm and kept our family together. Without that lifeline I am sure our family life would have become far harder.
When I go to take flowers to my parents’ grave, I still say a thank you to Aunty Anna, who is buried nearby in the same cemetery, for unknowingly making that difference. Sadly, not everyone benefits when they need it most.
Taking part in the Sleep Out is a small glimpse of what sleeping rough must be like, but we will all get to go home and have a warm shower and probably catch up on the lack of sleep, knowing that there is a warm drink and food waiting for us.
The reality for those who are homeless is that this experience can be a common occurrence.
About eight years ago I went to Guernsey with my then employer for a few days and was chatting to a relatively new colleague who had joined the business. He was very bright and determined to do well and was not afraid of putting the hours in at work and was also studying.
I took him for lunch, which was when he opened up that he had been sofa surfing for over six months as he had not been able to find affordable accommodation due to his housing status.
This was quite a shock at the time but when looking into the housing situation and speaking to others it became clear that this was not an isolated case. Sadly, he eventually decided that he needed to leave the island as the challenge of housing was too difficult to overcome.
As we go into what is likely to be a long, cold and wet winter, with homes ravaged by the recent storms, it is right that we consider those who are struggling but who, given an opportunity, want to achieve more and deserve better. We are lucky that Jersey does have an excellent number of very capable charities that can play a very active role in not only helping those who are currently homeless but also helping prevent many more from ever falling into such sad circumstances.
These organisations, such as Sanctuary Trust and many others, are often far better placed to engage with individuals who have been challenged by authority and challenging personal circumstances.
While many support these charities with both time and donations it is still important that they benefit from taxpayer funding to deliver on agreed key performance indicators to reduce and eventually eradicate homelessness and allow more of these individuals to enjoy a fulfilling and productive life in this island home we share, as that is for the betterment of all.
•Robert Surcouf comes from a Jersey farming family, though his mother was Spanish and moved to Jersey in the 1960s. He became an accountant and now specialises in risk and enterprise management. A father of two schoolage children, he still helps organise and participates in local motorsport events and was one of the founding members of Better Way 2022 before the last election.
The views expressed are his own.