opinion

From time to time we will feature articles here written by Trinity staff and residents. These articles will reflect the experiences and views of individuals, and not necessarily the views of Trinity Homeless Projects 

 

The chickens are coming home to roost. Andy Robertson.

If you say that chickens are coming home to roost, you mean that bad or silly things done in the past are beginning to cause problems”   The online idiom dictionary.

The Guardian newspaper ran a headline in September this year that read:

“Homelessness could spread to middle class, study warns.”

Two years ago, Trinity held it’s first ever Big SleepOut, an event where people are sponsored to spend a night sleeping outside in a cardboard box. Included in the event was a presentation to the participants that highlighted our role in ending homelessness. Our prime message to the audience was that nobody is immune from homelessness, and to borrow a phrase made famous by the national lottery, “it could be you”. I am not sure how many people bought in to this idea, or even took it seriously. However two years on, evidence suggests that the spectre of homelessness looms for many. Many who would never in their wildest dreams have considered it a possibility.

In an environment where ordinary, innocent people are paying the price of greed, poor judgment and mismanagement, we have to face up to the fact that there are many more people at risk of losing their homes and livelihoods, and the stability that these bring. When the Guardian prints the sort of headline we saw in September, you sit up and take note.

Small charities are also suffering in the wake of the “necessary” actions that are being implemented at a National level to bring about economic recovery.

Big Society is a misnomer.  

Homelessness is not a sub culture of vagrant “dog-on-a-rope” types with criminal     tendencies and an annoying habit of asking for your spare change. At Trinity alone, our residents’ journeys are far-reaching and varied, there is no “typical homeless”. 

Our role is to provide routes back to independent and fulfilled lives through stability, education, motivation and love. We are at the cutting edge of a national crisis in a local setting, and yet we are also victims of the crass financial idiocy that has been well documented over the last 3 years. Our task is going to become more challenging. Homelessness in this part of West London will grow, and without the  support of government, local authority, more community groups and businesses, we will find it harder to do the work we are here to do.  It’s getting tough, but we aren't going to chicken out…andy.robertson@trinityhp.org.uk

 

Landlord pain? Paul Mitchell

General complaints against landlords by tenants have increased in the last year with over 86,000 complaining, and reports of serious and life-threatening hazards to tenants have risen by 25% over the past two years. Yet despite this there were only 270 successful prosecutions made by local authorities against rogue landlords.

Trinity believes that everyone has the right to live in a safe and peaceful environment and to be treated with total respect whether they own or rent a property. If people are to see their own lives transformed successfully then we all have the duty to ensure we provide the best environment for someone to live in.

We have recently started working with the Local Council and the Fassnidge Trust to renovate the wonderful Grade two listed building, The Cedars, which is based in Uxbridge High Street. This project will bring this unused building back into full use and provide nine much needed  housing units.

As this project opens in December this year, we are reminded of our own priorities as a landlord. We pride ourselves that we enable our clients to live in an environment that enables dignity and respect whilst providing the back-up to nurture change. At Trinity we are committed to ensuring our strap line is as significant as it ever was… ‘more than just a roof over your head’

Paul Mitchell is Commercial Director for Trinity.  paul.mitchell@trinityhp.org.uk