Future of county branch of homeless charity Shelter hangs in balance
HOMELESS charity Shelter could stop giving out support at its Gloucestershire branch as a result of massive funding cuts.
It has seen its budget slashed by 50 per cent nationwide and is considering cutting back on its face-to-face advice service.
Among the areas facing the axe is the county branch with bosses warning it would have a massive impact on homeless people in Cheltenham and Gloucester.
The service, based in Saint Michael's Square, Gloucester, provides advice on legal issues for people looking at the prospect of life on the streets.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
Campbell Robb, chief executive of Shelter, said: "We are currently consulting staff.
"If these services have to close as a result of cuts to legal aid, this will be a massive blow not only to our staff, but to the people in the affected areas who will no longer be able to get face-to-face advice and support from Shelter.
"We will be doing all we can to ensure people can still get help with their housing problems through our helpline and website. Now is the very worst time to be taking away the housing safety net that helps people stay in their homes."
Brian Jones, chief executive of the Gloucester Emergency Accommodation Resource charity (Gear), echoed the warning.
"Shelter is the only place that provides some kind of legal services to people who are having problems with housing," he added.
"If there is no one doing that, then it is going to mean the housing rights of people will not be as protected in the future.
"In all the austerity cuts we are seeing, my plea is that we need a little bit of compassion."
It comes just months after Gloucestershire county council decided to remodel its homeless provision.
Under the plans, emergency beds in Gloucester will be reduced by 13.
The new service will split the amount of beds available, with six in Cheltenham and eight in Gloucester.
Comments
by honslknjklyt
Saturday, October 06 2012, 10:04PM
“Once someone gets stuck in private accomodation they are trapped in in security. My friend lives in a private landlord accomodation and works. He will never qualify for social housing. There are loads of repairs that need doing, the mould is terrible but he won;t report it as the landlord will put the rent up like the last time.
At any time he could get a letter giving him 4 weeks notice should his landlord decide he wants that place for a relative instead. He cannot make his home feel homely as he is insecure. It is so unfair to see that.”
by bluebell25
Saturday, October 06 2012, 7:29PM
“redroses93 and honslknjklyt are right, people need to be aware that Shelter does a lot more than only help street homeless people. Gloucester has the second highest rate of mortgage repossessions in the south west (beaten only by Swindon) http://tinyurl.com/9dgglqw
and people are more and more having to live in private rented properties, and may need help if their landlord does not keep to the law.”
by honslknjklyt
Friday, October 05 2012, 11:07AM
“I think it is a good point that you make redroses1903 in relation to Shelter not just being for street homeless but that is most often how they portray themselves or what we see of them.
For all the good work they do in preventing people becoming homeless, we see more when it comes to anything publicity wise about that.”
by Councilwonk
Friday, October 05 2012, 11:05AM
“steveshedhead - the County Council has no housing responsibilities, nor do they fund legal aid.”
by steveshedhead
Friday, October 05 2012, 10:40AM
“This situation is I am afraid further evidence of the coalition government and conservative county council targetting the most vulnerable in our society as part of their austerity regime. This situation will be further compounded when the so called welfare reforms kick in, its ironic that these reforms will lead to increased homelessness. So at a time of growing demand, whats the county and government response cut back the organisations who will help and support the homeless. Shame on you.”
by redroses1903
Friday, October 05 2012, 10:25AM
“There appears to be a misconception that Shelter only assists homeless people. This is incorrect - Shelter Gloucestershire provides specialist housing advice on legal issues such as rent possession, mortgage possession, disrepair, landlord/tenant issues, illegal eviction and also provides court representation in Gloucester and Cheltenham via court desk on a weekly basis for rent and mortgage possession and warrants. The impact of the potential loss of this service will be massive and will affect many residents of Gloucestershire - not just the street homeless.”
by TimMessanger
Thursday, October 04 2012, 2:24PM
“Maybe it would help is they stopped alienating people calling the people of Cheltenham "mean" doesn't help their cause and the chuggers are just bleeding money that the charity obviously needs. ALL doorstep and street "sign up" activities should be stopped NOW!
Say 10,00 people sign up at a cost of £100 per person that will have cost them £1,000,000 of potential contributions................”