Mayor visits rough sleepers centre
by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
26/02/2009
Groundbreaking work to tackle rough sleeping has been recognised by the Mayor of London.
Boris Johnson paid a visit to the Broadway Day Centre in Market Lane, Shepherds Bush last Friday (13 February) to see the innovative work for himself and launch his own Rough Sleeper Strategy.
The Mayor’s new capital-wide strategy ties in with the government’s 'No One Left Out' plan to tackle rough sleepers. At a local level, H&F Council has also developed a strategy based on local knowledge and issues.
The council is leading the way in tackling rough sleeping among new migrant populations and was one of the first local authorities in Britain to employ a voluntary reconnection policy for those eastern European migrants who fell on hard times and ended up on our streets.
“The reality of international migration is that it will always create winners and losers,” explained Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, H&F Council Leader. “We recognised that in Hammersmith and Fulham there was a visible minority who have ended up rough sleeping and accordingly we teamed up with Polish charity, the Barka Foundation, to help migrants who have found life in Britain difficult.”
Barka staff based at the Broadway Centre in Shepherds Bush give migrants the support they need to get their lives back on track, including the option to return home. H&F Council was allocated £50,000 last year and used the money to help pay for the Barka bus to return 150 people to Poland. The same level of funding has also been secured for this year.
As well as tackling the problem where it exists, the council is applying pressure on the EU Parliament to take greater responsibility for its nationals abroad. Councillor Greenhalgh says, “We are doing what we can but more action is needed to link in services before migrants depart so they are better informed about the reality of living and working in Britain.”
H&F Council has also commissioned a high needs supported accommodation unit for the most entrenched rough sleepers and is working with the Broadway Centre to develop day services that promote education, employment and training.
Training and employment opportunities can help people gain practical vocational skills such as construction, or provide the simple social skills that can allow them to move on with their lives.
Mayor Johnson said: “It’s scandalous that in 21st century London people have to resort to sleeping on the streets, which is why I have pledged to end rough sleeping in the capital by 2012. Our commitment is more important than ever and we now have the right people gathered round one table to honour and achieve it.”
