In our consultations with businesses, many levy-payers expressed concern about homelessness and begging in the city centre, realising that protecting our area means working to help those most vulnerable.
Such complex issues don’t need a short term fix; they require a considered and sensitive strategy for real and lasting change. We have engaged with local government, law enforcement and expert third sector partners to discern the best strategy moving forward.
Based on their recommendations, we are providing funds to employ an Outreach Worker as part of the Cyrenians Navigator Project – Nick Harrold (pictured).
Nick works on a one-to-one basis with rough sleepers on the streets, providing support through developing a relationship and by responding to the person’s priorities and supporting them to address these.
The key to the project’s success is that it offers peer support delivered by someone who has experienced homelessness themselves. Nick, who has 25 years’ experience working with vulnerable people, takes to the streets of Edinburgh several times a week alongside his colleague whose own experience of sleeping rough gives the service a unique advantage.
“What makes us different is the combination of my networks and understanding of the way official systems work with his knowledge of the streets and personal connections. Folk open up to him much quicker than they would if it was just me,” Nick explained. His two-person team also liaises with other specialist agencies including the Bethany Christian Trust, the Community Police Team – including our BID Cop PC Sanii – and Access Point.
Homelessness is a key issue, and through the efforts of The Cyrenians and other third sector partners a real difference is being made to the lives of people in our community. With this initiative, we can offer hope and real solutions to help people move away from a street-based lifestyle.
