London churches offer lifeline to new homeless

CLCC team collecting a trolly load of delicious Italian meals from Delfino's in Mount Street

Catholic churches in central London are offering a lifeline to homeless people - many of whom have lost their jobs recently, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dozens gathered in the Arrupe Hall at Farm Street Church, Mayfair on Sunday for a hot lunch and chat with volunteers serving them. The meal is the latest service offered by Central London Catholic Churches (CLCC) - in response to a request by Westminster Council.

At the start of the first lockdown, when most homeless projects were forced to close, CLCC ran a meal service in Trafalgar Square. When the National Gallery reopened they moved around the corner into Charing Cross Road and later also organised meals and hot showers in Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Warwick Street, near Piccadilly Circus.

Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, parish priest at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street and chair of Justice & Peace in the Diocese of Westminster, told ICN that local businesses and hotels, including the Delfino Italian restaurant in Mount Street, The Connaught Hotel in Carlos Place, L'Autre and Misto restaurants in Shepherds Market have been very generous donating a choice of hot meals.

He said: "What we are seeing is hospitality - the largest industry in London - forced to close." Many of the new homeless are people who worked in those hotels and restaurants. Fr Dominic said: "I hope to help the industry survive by partnering with them to feed the homeless community."

He observed that in spite of the difficult situation many newly homeless people found themselves in, volunteers were impressed with their calm, good behaviour. Volunteer Michael Goode, who lost his own job in the energy industry in May, told ICN: "I worked on the projects in Trafalgar Square, Warwick Street and now Farm Street. It really is the most rewarding thing I've done in a long time. People are so good. Many have really lost so much but they still look out for each other. Working as a volunteer is helping me deal with my own situation."

As the cold weather sets in, Westminster Council wants homeless services to move indoors. Fr Dominic said they are hoping to offer more services in future, including psychotherapy sessions with the Wilfred Faber counselling service, and some computers for guests.

On Wednesday, Fr Dominic, as Chair of Justice & Peace in Westminster Diocese, Rev Lucy Winkett from St James, Piccadilly and Rev Jonathan Evens from St Martin in the Fields will be meeting MP Nickie Aitken MP from the All Party Group on Rough Sleeping too discuss the future.

Fr Dominic said: "We really want to help the government achieve its pledge to end rough sleeping. It's still the case that 60 per cent of homeless people in London have no recourse to public funds so we will be asking the government once again to ensure that full funding is available for the duration of the pandemic to the increasing number with nowhere to stay. This really must be made available at this time of great crisis to all on the streets, regardless of their immigration status."

He said they were also concerned to hear that the government was considering deporting foreign nationals who are homeless. "We presume this is an empty threat" Fr Dominic said, "but we would like to be reassured of this. We would like to advise the authorities that this kind of rhetoric only instils fear and makes it much more difficult for local authorities, faith groups and homeless agencies to work together to end the appalling scandal of rough sleeping in the middle of a public health crisis."

Fr Dominic said the delegation would also be asking for a restoration of the ban on evictions.

LINKS

Farm Street Church - www.farmstreet.org.uk/

Westminster Justice and Peace - https://westminsterjp.wordpress.com/