Think Global – Act N16
By Jenny Wight
Many people want to support local charities and voluntary groups but don't know how to find them. Local groups need this support but don't have the time or resources to carry out advertising or employ press officers. N16 Magazine is stepping up to bridge this gap to act as a link between local people and small groups active in N16.
As the Christmas season approaches, along with thoughts of tinsel and mulled wine come thoughts of those with nowhere to live. This issue of homelessness is one the Empty Homes Agency is working to address.
The chronic shortage of social housing in the capital is a well-known problem. But did you know that there are approximately 3,650 empty homes in Hackney alone? If you consider there are also around 2,300 homeless households in Hackney, it does seem like a simple solution is in reach. To back up the work of groups such as North London Action for the Homeless, featured in our last edition, you can, with the support of The Empty Homes Campaign, apply pressure where it is needed to bring unused houses and flats back into circulation.
The Empty Homes campaign is not a local charity but what they do works well when championed at a local level. They are asking for people with empty properties to contact them, as they offer free management, guaranteed rent and support applying for grants for any works needed. The condition of this free service is that the property must be used for social housing. They are also asking for people to report empty properties to them, as they can offer support and advice on how to get these properties back in use. Even though N16 is a property hot-spot, there are still plenty empty properties around. www.emptyhomes.com has a toolkit for people interested in getting a N16 property back in use.
 I asked Desmond Kilroy at the London Empty Properties helpline why people should support the campaign: 'There is a desperate need for owners to come forward; a chronic shortage of social housing is one of the main reasons for homelessness in London. As winter approaches, it is a life or death situation for people on the streets.'
Think Global
Homelessness is a problem all over the country, but it does tend to be worse in large cities such as London.
* In 2005 162,990 households were accepted as unintentionally homeless by local authorities in the England.
* There are an estimated 380,000 hidden homeless people in the UK, which includes people staying in B&B, hostels, squats and on friends’ floors.
* Compared to the general population hidden homeless are twice- and rough sleepers are three-times as likely to have chronic chest and breathing problems.
* Compared to the general population homeless people are 13 times more likely to have experienced violence and 47 times more like to have experienced theft.
Taken from Statistics about Homelessness, March 2006, published by Crisis
Take Action
* If you know of a property near you, call the hotline or download the toolkit and see what you can do about it.
* If you are a property owner and are interested in finding out about the free services the Empty Property Agency offer, contact them on 0870 901 6303 or desmond.kilroy@emptyhomes.com
* If you have any spare time, contact one of the local groups listed below.
 North London Action for the Homeless
The Church Hall, 24-30 Bouverie Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 0AJ
+44 (0)20-8802 1600 admin@nlah.org.uk
Hackney Winter Night Shelter (which re-opens on 1st January 2007)
Hackney Winter Night Shelter, The Parish Office, St Mary's Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 9ES. Night Shelter phone: 07962-447373 (8pm-8am when shelter is open), email: info@hwns.org.uk, Web site: www.hwns.org.uk
Do you run a local group or charity and would like to be featured on Think Global... Act N16? Then send an email to jennywight@hotmail.co.uk giving details of your group. |
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