Joan Davies is a Labour Councillor for the Manchester city centre ward and occasional Confidential theatre writer. She was elected to Manchester City Council in 2012. In the recent May 5 elections, Cllr Davies was re-elected with 64% of the vote.

MANCHESTER Homeless Charter, launched on Monday 9 May 2016, is a unique response to the rise in homelessness seen across the UK.

The stories told by the experienced are the most powerful element of the day

The packed launch event, appropriately held at the historic Friends Meeting House, placed people who have experienced homelessness at the centre, the centre of both the event and the Charter itself. It worked to convey messages: messages of hope, commitment, humanity and the value, even necessity, of working together.

There’s a desire not to refer to people as ‘the homeless’. That’s absolutely right. You wouldn’t wish to be constantly referred to as ‘the tenant’, ‘the mortgage slave’ or ‘the smug **** who’s paid off their mortgage’. The term ‘people who have experienced homelessness’ is much more fair, though cumbersome. I’ll use ‘the experienced’ for now.

The experienced took the stage with a largely self-penned song, the one which closed the recent StreetWise Opera’s Easter Passion performance in Campfield Market, a story of working together towards a brighter future, with the only negative note the repeated line 'and the rain still falls’.

We could indeed be anywhere in the UK, but the accents give away the Manchester location.

The Charter, presented on video, has been co-authored by the experienced and ‘provides guiding principles concerning the rights of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness’. For example, ‘We believe that everyone who is homeless should have a right to: a safe, secure home along with an appropriate level of support to create a good quality of life’. You can read it here.

.The Homelessness Charter

The stories told by the experienced are the most powerful element of the day.

Take Connor Bates, aged eighteen from Rusholme, shown above in the picture with Sir Richard Leese. He became homeless as a result of family issues and took to the streets when sofa-surfing offers dried up. It was winter, in the run up to Christmas. ‘It was cold,’ he tells me, 'very cold'. He wasn’t aware that at the age of seventeen he would have been classed as a priority by Manchester City Council. Eventually help reached him, and he moved into The Limes, which he credits with saving him.

I’d credit Connor himself; for a lad of his age and experience, avoiding involvement with major drugs or alcohol is pretty impressive. He now wants to give something back and volunteers with organisations which value his experience. He wants to continue his education, loves cooking, and wishes to return to learning in this field. With the vast number of food outlets opening in Manchester I certainly hope that someone will give him the opportunity to work towards this goal.

Connor’s tale, in common with all the tales, highlights the importance of being given respect, support and opportunity.

Why the Charter? 'The Charter is a way to bring together people who are homeless with people who are dedicated to ending homelessness. By uniting people with a shared vision we will focus our efforts to tackle key challenges, and ultimately to end homelessness.'

To bump start the Charter a number of organisations made pledges, including a substantial five-year financial commitment from Allied London, as well as its CEO Mike Ingall. Churches, voluntary organisations, Manchester City Council and key services will work together. The ultimate aim? To beat homelessness. A tall order.

This isn’t new work; all these organisations have been playing a part for years. Often unreported. This is, however, a new beginning and a new commitment.

The focus this week was on organisations making a commitment, but there is a role for individuals too who can make a financial contribution or volunteer via the ‘Give Help’ section on the Charter website.

Famously during Manchester’s Victorian-era Cotton Famine, a by-product of the American Civil War, a Famine Relief Committee was formed, uniting sectors of the city to address a genuine problem. There are shades of that approach here, with two welcome modern changes: the current Charter, unlike the FRC, has women contributors, and the experienced are at the heart of the Charter statement.

Find out more at charter.streetsupport.net and manchester.gov.uk/homelessness_charter

 

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