The Passage’s Director of Housing Services, James Lally, explains why this is such a crucial moment in the ongoing fight to eradicate homelessness.
The precise number of people sleeping rough in Westminster fluctuates with the seasons, explains James Lally – our new Director of Housing Services – but the trends are unambiguous. “The number of people on the streets is frightening,” he says. “We are right back at pre-pandemic levels, and it’s rising.”
A recent count of rough sleepers in London revealed that in Westminster alone, 1,053* people were sleeping outside. In total in our London boroughs there are 4,711* people sleeping rough. Every single person represents a tragedy for our society, and they are individuals who need our support.
A multitude of complex and intersecting factors are driving the rise in homelessness, he says. “Some examples include people falling out of private rented sector accommodation – affordability and access to that sector is a massive challenge. Second, people experiencing a serious breakdown in the relationship with their family and having nowhere to live, and thirdly, those fleeing violence, is driving the increase.”
James has worked in the homelessness sector for the best part of two decades
His new role at The Passage encompasses oversight of the charity’s Community and Housing Services and he is driven by a belief that in a sector where, on the streets, the personal rubs up against the political, The Passage can be a key advocate for lasting change.
“It is a really interesting time, because Westminster Council has just released their new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy,” he says. The charity was recently invited to chair a collective of organisations under the banner of the Westminster Homelessness Partnership, all of which are committed to ending rough sleeping in Westminster.
“It’s going to be fascinating. Because not only will it strengthen what we are trying to achieve here, but it’s a platform through which we can strengthen the entire partnership across Westminster and connect to what we hope is a very strong plan for implementing this new strategy.”
It’s natural to be focused on resolving people’s homelessness after it’s happened
“We’re responding to a crisis, and we have to continue to respond to that crisis.” “But how do we identify and support people before it becomes necessary to find them on the street?” He uses the example of a person approaching their local council because they’re at risk of homelessness. “That’s the point at which we should be intervening. Not when they hit the streets.”
It’s a huge opportunity to really trailblaze the charity’s work. “Because in many ways, The Passage has been doing that for years. We have specialist welfare rights advisors, resettlement workers, and a support service with all of the expertise and understanding of the rough sleeping world co-located in the same building. I don’t know anywhere else where that happens.”
The Passage’s ‘No Night Out’ model is drawing a lot of attention from Westminster
From both the Greater London Authority and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. “Because it’s something that we should be replicating, not just in Westminster, but everywhere.” Unity of purpose extends to the local community too.
One of James’ first initiatives was to invite local residents to visit the centre for an open evening to discuss the charity’s work. The purpose of the evening was to dispel some of those myths about homelessness and showcase our services to demonstrate what happens inside the building.
The work can be as challenging as it gets, he says. “But it’s not difficult to remain optimistic when you’re surrounded by wonderful people doing wonderful work. This sector has some of the finest humans I’ve ever met.”