Internet Cafe At Christmas Shelter Reconnects Homeless People With Old Friends and Family
New MORI research published by Crisis shows that for 83% of the British public, contact with family is the most important aspect of Christmas. However, Crisis has found that for many homeless and vulnerable people, the memory of family members or friends they have lost touch with over the years can be the most painful aspect of Christmas.
As the doors of the 30th Open Christmas network of shelters open today, (23 December 2001), hundreds of homeless and vulnerable people will have a chance to renew contact with old friends and family they may not have spoken to in years, at the main shelter's new internet Cafй.
New MORI research published by Crisis shows that for 83% of the British public, contact with family is the most important aspect of Christmas. However, Crisis has found that for many homeless and vulnerable people, the memory of family members or friends they have lost touch with over the years can be the most painful aspect of Christmas. The prospect of spending Christmas isolated and alone can be enough to tip some people over the edge.
But at the main shelter's internet Cafй, computer experts who were once rough sleepers will train guests to use laptops from which they will be able to send and receive e-mails from loved ones they may have lost contact with but have not stopped thinking about. This year's main shelter is housed in an old sugar warehouse, which has been generously donated by Tate and Lyle.
"Broken ties with parents, children, partners and close friends not only push people into homelessness but keep them trapped in homelessness. Through the internet Cafй, individuals will have a chance to make that first tentative step towards repairing broken relationships and healing the wounds created by that loss," said Shaks Ghosh, Chief Executive of Crisis.
The internet Cafй will be run by members of the homeless organisation Tower Hamlets and City Groundswell who will also help guests to surf the net and tap into online learning courses. Virtual tutors will provide tuition in hundreds of subject areas.
"In this information age, email and the internet have become second nature to so many of us, from school children to silver surfers, but the technological revolution has by-passed many homeless people. Through our internet Cafй, homeless people will get a chance to break down the barriers that exclude them from the world of work and discover hidden talents they never knew they had," said Shaks Ghosh.
In addition to the internet Cafй at the main Open Christmas shelter, Crisis is also providing online literacy and numeracy services at the women's shelter and the quiet shelter for especially vulnerable people.
From 23 to 30 December this year, Crisis' network of five Christmas shelters will be open to an estimated 1,000 homeless and vulnerably-housed people. Many of the guests at the Open Christmas are hidden homeless - in hostels, B&Bs, sleeping on friend's floors - or living in their own flats but unable to cope.
The Open Christmas provides a whole range of services for its guests, from medical, dental and optical care, housing and legal advice, counselling and housing advice. Above all, it provides companionship at a time of year which can be particularly lonely for those without a home or family. The companionship and support that guests get from the 2,500 volunteers who run the shelter can not only change the way they think about themselves, but can inspire and empower them to tackle their problems and rebuild their lives.
In addition to its work over Christmas, Crisis works 365 days a year to help people through the crisis of homelessness.
Note to Editors
- The Crisis Open Christmas is a network of five Christmas shelters across London. In addition to the main shelter, there are shelters for women, drinkers, especially-vulnerable people and a day centre.
- The internet Cafй is run by Tower Hamlets and City Groundswell. Groundswell is a grassroots organisation run by former homeless people. It provides IT training to homeless people throughout the year.
- A media briefing on 30 years of the Crisis Open Christmas and written case studies of homeless guests are available from the Crisis press office.
- MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 1,963 adults aged 15+ throughout Great Britain, face-to-face, in-home, using CAPI. Fieldwork was conducted from 29 Nov - 4 Dec 2001. Data have been weighted to the known profile of the British population.
ONLY EIGHT MEDIA ORGANISATIONS WILL BE ALLOWED ACCESS TO THE MAIN CHRISTMAS SHELTER WHEN IT OPENS BETWEEN 2.15PM AND 3.15PM ON SUNDAY 23RD DECEMBER. ACCESS MUST BE NEGOTIATED IN ADVANCE. MEDIA CANNOT ENTER THE SHELTER WITHOUT A PASS. THE MAIN SHELTER IS IN LONDON, E16.
