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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell Roig

The people supporting rough sleepers in Bristol

At the start of his shift, John Summerhill packs his rucksack with socks, hats and silver blankets.

He also carries pay-as-you-go mobile phones, a first aid kit and paperwork.

Mr Summerhill is an outreach worker with St Mungo's, the sole provider of homeless outreach services in Bristol.

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The outreach worker is part of a team of seven that, together with two volunteers, cover the city. Their shifts are 6am to 2pm or 2pm to 10pm and, between July and September 2021, the team worked with more than 200 people.

We meet up at 6am and, as we start walking around the city centre, it is still dark and cold.

Mr Summerhill moves quickly around the city centre, stopping to talk to some people sleeping rough around Broadmead and also checking common sleeping spots around the Harbourside.

"It is about working with the individual as a whole," he said. "It is about working with people on an individual basis and where they are at in life.

"You want to be aware of their path, understand their background, to get the best outcome.

"It is about meeting people where they are.

"I always try to put myself in people's shoes."

Mr Summerhill packing his rucksack (BristolLive)

He said that homelessness can happen to anyone, for instance if they lost their jobs and were no longer able to pay their rent.

Contributing factors in homelessness include people's emotional wellbeing, drug and alcohol dependency and negative experiences, such as trauma.

Other elements such as poverty or their upbringing can also play a role, the outreach worker said.

Working with partner agencies, the aim is to find housing that is tailored to different people's needs, he continued, while the ongoing work with them once they are in accommodation is also key.

"It is about trying to get as much information as possible about somebody and, being led by the person, try to work with them to get the best outcome in the quickest way," he continued.

"It is just rubbish out there, it is so cold and dark.

"My role is to be able to hold that space for someone and support them.

"Some people are nervous about moving off the streets and I never lose sight of that."

As we walk around the city centre, we find a group of three men sat down chatting.

One of them gives his name as Jock and he tells us he came out of jail last month and is now staying in a house share, but has also spent time on the streets in the past.

Today he has been out on the streets since 6am to spend time with his friends.

Reflecting on what sleeping rough is like, he said: "It is cold and it is difficult to find places to sleep.

"I have not had any problems, but it feels unsafe."

Jock - who has lived in Bristol for more than 40 years - praised St Mungo's, saying it feels someone is looking after him.

Jock has lived in Bristol for more than 40 years (BristolLive)

The second man - who gave his name as "Nugget" - said he is sleeping rough at the moment, but that he has got a room in temporary accommodation and sometimes he stays with friends as well.

"If you were to impose that on me, I would back off," he continued. "I do go back sometimes but I am in my bedroom and it feels like it is all closing on me - I just have to get out.

"I do not like being in closed spaces, I like a bit of freedom and fresh air.

"It is alright, I like living on the streets - I have done this since I was 16 and I am 46 now."

Nugget said that the work St Mungo's does is very appreciated, adding it shows someone cares.

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Nugget is sleeping rough at the moment (BristolLive)

George is also spending time with the two men this morning. After being homeless for around 15 years, he has now had a flat since February.

The 64-year-old got here at 7am today, adding: "Nugget and I have known each other for years, I come nearly every day.

"When you are sleeping rough, you sleep with one eye open.

"I do not want to go back on the streets, I am told too old now."

Mr Summerhill said there are a variety of reasons why people may be reluctant to go into housing and, for instance, may have had negative experiences in housing projects in the past.

They may not like being indoors, he continued, or may enjoy the social element of being on the streets.

The outreach worker said another key aspect of the role is working with people to help them sustain their housing and, for instance, identify if there are any obstacles that are preventing that person from going back to the property.

A common one tends to be boredom, he explained, so they may try to find courses for people to go to.

Mr Summerhill said the number of people he speaks to every day fluctuates, adding this morning he met a new person.

He gave him a phone and they exchanged numbers, the outreach worker continued, and he will try to meet up with him later to see how they can help him to get him off the streets.

Mr Summerhill said one of the people he spoke to today showed him a letter about his utilities arrears.

"If we had just left that bill, chances are he could get end up getting evicted so we need to get that sorted," he continued.

Outreach worker John Summerhill canvases Bristol's streets in the early hours with volunteer Susie Boyle (BristolLive)

Mr Summerhill said that being on the streets is detrimental for people's health, adding they work with quite a lot of people who have underlying health problems.

The outreach worker said that he plans his shift before he goes out and a key part of that is StreetLink - which members of the people can use to report people sleeping rough.

As outreach workers can not be everywhere all the time, the reports coming in from members of the public are a massive help, he said. Before he goes out, he checks StreetLink to see if there have been any reports overnight and if so, incorporate them into his shift.

(BristolLive)

"This isn't about me, it is about people," said the 49-year-old. "It is about someone that is slumped and supporting them so they are able to lift their head up and look you in the eye.

"What a lovely thing to be able to be part of that, what a privilege to be part of that."

The outreach worker described the situation during covid as very tough, but said it has also had its positives.

Some people move into accommodation because of the lockdown, he continued, and have been able to sustain it and are now doing very well and leading independent lives.

Mr Summerhill - who has been outreach worker for a long time - praised Bristol City Council, saying there are more opportunities and services for people now.

He said the council does the best it can with what it has, adding more social housing and privately rented accommodation at affordable rates is needed in Bristol.

At the end of his shift, he goes back to debrief and collect the information for different clients' action plans.

"I just enjoy my job, I have a lot of passion and a lot empathy," he continued. "I understand it and I want to support in anyway way I can.

"Everyone deserves a warm place to call home."

(James Beck/BristolLive)

Volunteer Susie Boyle said she has been volunteering with St Mungo's for about a year, being part of their outreach team for about six months.

She started doing it because she wanted to do frontline outreach work, adding she has been aware of homelessness from a young age.

Ms Boyle - who has been a nurse for 20 years - said she understands about different aspects such as trauma or addiction.

"I enjoy being out there talking to people in a non-judgemental way," she continued. "The highlight for me is being able to help someone feel connected and understood - the human connection."

If you would like to be featured in our Benefit Bristol campaign, or know any organisation we should include, you can contact our reporter directly on estel.farellroig@reachplc.com

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