People who are sleeping rough are being given toiletry and food packs at homeless drop-ins and on morning outreach across the North-East, thanks to a partnership between two local charities Oasis Community Housing and Feeding Families.
Oasis Community Housing’s Project Team Leader, Stuart Dawson, explains, “The packs we give out at our drop-ins contain food that takes little or no preparation – such as energy bars, biscuits, peperamis, and chewing gum to let people freshen their breath.
“There’s toothpaste, shower gel and other toiletries that we give out too, for people to use in our drop-in showers or elsewhere.”
“Since starting our partnership with Feeding Families, the packs are there, ready to go; they immediately make people feel ‘seen’ and valued. On a practical level, it gets food into people’s bellies too. It’s been so beneficial to the people we support.”
Nutrition is a big challenge for people experiencing homelessness, with a third saying that on average they eat only one meal a day.
In the past 12 months, Feeding Families has distributed over 46,000 packs to Oasis Community Housing, other charity partners and individuals across the region. This was a 100% increase on the previous year.
Feeding Families’ CEO, Juliet Sanders, said, “We are delighted to support Oasis Community Housing – and over 300 other charities in the North East. By partnering together we can give people more of what they need.
“Food is such a basic need that we have to start there before we can put in other interventions. The rough sleeper packs came about through conversations with Oasis Community Housing where we listened to their expertise, which guided the content of the packs. While it’s so sad these are needed it’s so satisfying that we can give a little dignity and kindness to those in desperate need.”
Oasis Community Housing is also using the Feeding Families packs as ‘welcome packs’ for people moving off the street and into the charity’s Basis Beds flats.
The homeless charity always work with the people they support to source furniture, through donations or small grants, to ensure a place feels more like a home upon move-in.
The new welcome packs are helping people settle in, with groceries such as cereal, longlife milk and tinned fruit as well as cleaning products and other household essentials.
Last year, Oasis Community Housing supported more than 1,300 men, women and young families facing homelessness through their drop-ins, and supported flats and houses.
Find out how you can get involved in making a difference for someone facing homelessness >>>