Calls to end stigma around homelessness in North East
A North East homelessness charity wants to end what it calls the 'stigma' around homelessness in our region.
North East Homeless, who support those on the streets here, say they're seeing a rise in the number of people without a roof over their head here, especially in the winter months.
It's as we've spent all week looking at different issues on homelesssness in the run up to Christmas.
Brian Burridge is from the charity - he says people don't pay homelessness enough attention and there's a stigma surrounding it:
"A lot of people think if you're homeless you must be a drug addict or alcoholic when that's not necessarily the case. I think mental health issues play a big important part in why people are homeless and I also think the presdsures of today's society do.
"Homelessness can affect anyone - it's not calssed as you've got no money, you're homeless. I know a lot of people who've been teachers, estate agents, solicitors, that, through no fault of their own have ended up losing their job and on the streets - they end up homeless without a roof over their head.
"North East Homeless does outreach services where we go out and give people food, warm clothing, hats, coats, scarves. We see numbers on the street - we do in the winter months see the number go up. Homelessness is on the increase."
Newcastle Council have told us they are making progress on tackling the issue and prevented over 3,000 cases of homelessness last year.
Councillor Steve Powers says with funding cuts it is hard:
"Locally we'll continue to work with partners but of course everyone's budgets are incredibly stretched, particualrly in terms of local government so it becomes harder and harder to provide those services."
"For those indivisduals that define themselves as in crisis, we have a range of services available, including accommodation but also the services they need in terms of being able to put their finances in order, to be able to access the benefits and support they can get so they move out of homelessness and abck into accommodation and being able to support themselves."
"Our first priority is to make sure people are aware of the services that are available to them. Here in Newcastle we have a fantastic track record of services to the point of where we received national recognition from government. For us I think our track record's really good but there's always more we can do to make sure people are aware of these services and are engaging in them."
We've spent all week looking at the issue of homelessness in the North East.
On Monday we told you about opposition to new plans to fine people for begging in South Tyneside.
On Tuesday we looked at claims there are far more people sleeping rough in our region than the figures suggest.
On Wednesday we told you about calls for more social housing here in the North East to prevent homelessness
On Thursday we told you about fears vulnerable women in Wearside could be forced on the streets by the closure of a charity.
The government say they're doing a lot to tackle homelessness - a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government said:
“Homelessness is less than half the 2003 peak, but we know that one person without a home is one too many.
“That’s why we’ve invested £500 million to tackle homelessness and stop it happening in the first place - including £50m for councils to help rough sleepers.
“We’ve also set out the largest affordable housebuilding programme of any government since the 1970s, investing £9.4 billion so we can build a country that works for everyone.”