“SPARE any change?” is a familiar request heard in Coventry city centre, as the number of homeless living on the streets has increased hugely.
If you have wondered what is the best way to support rough sleepers pro-actively, a new Coventry web page has been set up with Change into Action to enable the public to make financial donations.
Coventry Partnership Homelessness Forum, supported by Coventry City Council, has signed up to Change into Action, a city-wide donation web page.
Change into Action is coordinating public donations with Feeding Coventry, a local charity working to distribute the money raised by the public directly to rough sleepers.
All contributions are providing rough sleepers with beneficial goods and services to help them off the streets and into accommodation.
Coventry’s Homelessness Forum has recently put together the new Coventry Rough Sleeping Strategy for 2019-2024, which aims to eliminate street homelessness by 2022.
Councillors are backing the strategy and have highlighted Change into Action as a good example of one of the schemes to operate in Coventry.
Coun Tariq Khan, cabinet member for housing and communities, stresses the importance of agencies coming together to effectively engage with the rough sleeping community.
He said: “Eliminating street homelessness in Coventry remains a key priority for the council. Bringing together the existing generosity of the public and the commitment of different agencies is a productive step forward in tackling homelessness.
“We want to see the donation page take off. It’s important to be able to let people know the amount of funds being generated and exactly how and where rough sleepers are benefiting from the money raised.”
Change into Action also points the public in the direction of Streetlink; a platform that allows individuals to report the location of people they see rough sleeping or have any worries about them. This way the specialist outreach workers can offer the appropriate support needed.
Coun Khan added: “It is important that the public make us aware of any concerns they have about the wellbeing of rough sleepers. We need to make sure that people know what help is available for street homeless in Coventry.”
Visit the Change into Action website here: changeintoaction
