In 1995 Jimmy’s opened its doors to the homeless of Cambridge, providing a hot meal, a warm bed and a secure, welcoming environment. Since then, we have progressed from being simply a provider of emergency accommodation, to taking a more holistic approach in alleviating the problems of the homeless: today, there’s more joined up working between agencies, more opportunities to help our guests resolve their issues and a focus on practical, realistic approaches to some form of independence for individuals.
Although services for the homeless in Cambridge have changed considerably since the 1990s, unfortunately the causes and issues surrounding it have not. We still see violence within the home, prisoners released to no fixed abode, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health problems, breakdown of family and neighbourhood support networks, loss of employment…. the list goes on. All these things can, and sadly, all too often do, lead to homelessness.
In a city as supposedly rich and advantaged as Cambridge we sometimes don’t – or can’t, or won’t – see the true impact of homelessness. Being homeless isn’t just about sleeping rough in a shop doorway or on a park bench: thankfully, with the hard work of many organisations, in recent years we have seen a genuine fall in the numbers of those who sleep on the streets.
But being homeless means far more than simply not having your own home. Being homeless can mean months of sleeping of friends’ floors or sofas, being crowded into an unsuitable ‘B&B’, evictions, families being split up to stay with different relatives, living in temporary hostel or council accommodation. We know of at least 300 people who have to live like this in Cambridge – how many more are there unseen, unheard…?
Jimmy’s tries to provide a voice for just a small number of Cambridge’s homeless and vulnerably housed. Other organisations work tirelessly to help others. But we all want the same: equal opportunities for all, support for those who need a helping hand, and recognition that everyone deserves a chance.
