As homelessness charity Porchlight turns 50, it’s warning that many people experiencing life on the street don’t live to that age.
The charity is taking to the streets of Kent with an installation about the deadly reality of homelessness. It will feature a six tents with powerful message on them that people living on the streets are unlikely to make their 50th birthday.
“Until everyone can celebrate their 50th birthday, we won’t be celebrating ours,” says Porchlight spokesperson Chris Thomas. “It wouldn’t feel right. Especially when winter is fast approaching and sleeping out in the cold can kill.
“And although we’re doing everything we can to keep people safe, funding cuts have scaled back the help we’re able to provide. At the same time, homelessness is getting worse. So, we’re using our 50th anniversary to raise the alarm about the danger people face.
“Our charity’s founders could never have imagined that five decades on the situation would be so dire.”
Tent installation
Porchlight’s tent installation will appear at eight locations across Kent and including Margate. The installation was put in place yesterday, World Homeless Day (10 October) and finishes in November. It will be on Margate sands from October 28-30.
Messages written on the tents highlight the fact that in the UK, the average age of death for people living on the streets is 45 for men and just 43 for women.
Chris Thomas said: “It’s an uncomfortable truth, but nobody should feel comfortable about this – least of all our politicians. We hope this installation amplifies the danger people face and that someone in a position of power takes notice and takes action.”
The tents also contain quotes from people who’ve been helped by Porchlight. This includes Jacqui who celebrated her 60th birthday earlier this year and will mark it by doing a sponsored skydive for Porchlight at the end of October.
She said: “At night I walked up and down, with blisters on my feet. I didn’t sleep, I was too scared. I thought the minute I stood still would be the minute I wouldn’t wake up. I dread to think where I’d be without Porchlight.”
Jacqui’s story reflects the deadly reality for everyone forced to sleep on the streets this winter. Despite suffering some setbacks this year, Porchlight says it will do everything it can to speak up for people who don’t have a voice and keep them safe.
Homelessness
Homelessness is at its highest level in England since records began, according to a recent report by the National Audit Office.
This includes people who are rough sleeping and families trapped in emergency temporary accommodation (such as B&Bs and hotels) after losing their homes.
Porchlight provides homelessness support in Dartford, Dover, Folkestone, Sevenoaks, Thanet, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.
In the past year the charity has encountered 267 people who’ve been rough sleeping and a further 373 people have experienced other forms of homelessness (sofa surfing, temporary accommodation).
Because Porchlight only works in certain parts of Kent, the total number of people in the county experiencing homelessness will be much higher. There will also be people that Porchlight and other organisations aren’t yet aware of – either because they’re hiding from view or are sofa surfing.
Kent County Council cut homelessness funding in the spring. It meant the devastating loss of £1m annual funding for Porchlight, reducing the help the charity is able to provide for people.
However, Porchlight staff have been meeting with potential funders, including district and borough councils, to seek future funding for homelessness services.
Tent installation locations and dates
- Canterbury, Whitefriars: Thurs 10 and Fri 11 October
- Rochester, outside the cathedral: Weds 16 October
- Ashford, Bandstand: Weds 23, Thurs 24, Fri 25 October
- Margate, Main Sands: Mon 28, Tues 29, Weds 30 October
- Folkestone Harbour Arm: Thurs 31 October, Fri 1, Sat 2 November
- Tunbridge Wells, outside Royal Victoria Shopping Centre: Tues 5, Weds 6, Thurs 7 November
- Faversham, Macknade: Fri 15, Sat 16, Sun 17 November
- Canterbury Cathedral: Mon 18 to Thurs 28 November
