Tonight, like many people across our region I will be Sleeping Rough So Others Don’t Have To – you must think I am mad but this will be my fifth annual Sleepy Easy Event.

And, they call it Sleep Easy but I am sure it won’t be EASY tonight!

However, what spurs me on is the fact that I am helping a ‘worthy’ cause our local YMCA and other homeless charities – they all do a great job in assisting the homeless and preventing homelessness.

Earlier, this week I received the email below from the YMCA Sleep Easy Team to remind me that the event was almost here, and I thought I would share this with you in the hope that it would encourage you to sponsor me in my efforts – to date I have raised over £150.

To sponsor me click on the following link: http://goo.gl/SGS4E9 

Dear Participant,

Thank you once again for registering with Sleep Easy 2015. By now you will be making final preparations for the evening, so we thought we would send you some information (also contained in your participant pack) that outlines why, every winter, YMCA Humber holds this mammoth sleep-out event.

Background

Sleep Easy is a national campaign run by YMCAs across the country to raise awareness of homelessness issues and to raise valuable funds to support YMCA Projects.

The key phrase associated with Sleep Easy relates to the event participants who ‘sleep rough so that others don’t have to.’

In the Humber Region the YMCA work in partnership with a range of organisations that support homeless people in the area with funds raised shared accordingly between these organisations.

Over £100,000 has been raised in the Humber Region through Sleep Easy and those funds have allowed YMCA Humber and our partner charities to continue combatting the problem of youth homelessness in the area but it is a problem that is unlikely to go away in the foreseeable future, which is why this campaign is as important as ever

Facts Regarding Homelessness and Rough Sleeping

Homelessness is a significant problem affecting in the region of 400,000 people nationally and 2,000 across the Humber Region.

The vast majority of homeless people are not rough sleepers and most of them will be found sofa surfing, squatting, living in hostels or B&Bs.

The minority that do not fall into the categories above generally end up sleeping rough. The facts associated with rough sleepers paint a stark reality as the following facts illustrate.

There are many factors that can lead to young people becoming homeless. YMCA Humber believes that extra help and support to deal with associated practical and emotional issues will help young people move forward.

Young homeless are one of the most vulnerable groups in society yet, when they are ready to live independently, many are unable to find appropriate accommodation, leaving them in support or temporary living longer than necessary.

Research by Homeless Link in 2014 has shown that those experiencing homelessness at a young age have an increased chance of becoming homeless again and developing more complex problems later in life.

The Sleep Easy partners work across the Humber Region to provide better and more integrated services for young people at risk of, or experiencing homeless.

• Is 13 times more likely to become a victim of violence

• Is 47 more times more likely to become a victim of theft

• Is 3 times more likely to have to attend hospital

• Will have a reduced mortality rate from a healthy 81 years old to 47 years of age

• 62% of young people become homeless because relatives or friends are no longer willing to accommodate them. This is usually because of relationship breakdown.

• Some groups of young people are more vulnerable than others; 13% of young people experiencing homelessness are young offenders whilst 11% are care leavers.

• 8 out of 10 homelessness agencies think young people are affected by benefit sanctions

• 6 out of 10 homeless young people have complex needs with 5 out of 10 homeless young people’s needs becoming increasing complex over time

• To be classified as statutorily homeless, a young person has to apply to their local authority. A decision then depends on an assessment of their particular circumstances. If accepted as being statutorily homeless, the local authority is required to provide accommodation if it also judges them to be in priority need.

• 57% of homeless young people are not in education, training or employment with half lacking the living skills needed to live independently. YMCA Humber and their partner charities will work with young people to develop these skills sufficiently and provide education, training and employment opportunities so that young people are in a position to

• Other causes of homelessness include 11% due to losing a job and 9% due to benefit cuts.

• The number of young people sleeping rough on any one particular night is comparatively low but the aggregate number experiencing rough sleeping in any one year is much higher. This suggests that when homelessness begins a young person may experience a period of rough sleeping before finding temporary housing.

Sleep Easy in the Humber Region

The week of the YMCA Humber event is significant, as it is held in what is statistically regarded to be the coldest week in the year.

The idea of the event is not to replicate the hardship of rough sleeping, nor to have an adverse affect on the health on any individual participant. The event is however designed to give participants a snapshot of what some of the most vulnerable members of our society have to endure.

Four venues are holding Sleep Easy events in the Humber Region in 2015, and they are:

• Freshney Place in Grimsby
• Wilberforce College in Hull
• Kings Church in Beverley
• The Hawthorns, Brigg Town FC in Brigg

The number of participants taking part in 2014 was over 250, which was a record for the region and we are hopeful of repeating that success this time around.

Where is the funding going in 2015?

In 2014 funding raised will be used to;

• Build on the success of the bond scheme set up in 2013 in Hull in partnership with organisations such as Hull Harp and Child Dynamix
• Help support Christian Action Resource Enterprise and Harbour Place who provide a range of services to support families, parents and homeless people in Grimsby
• Support YMCA Humber housing projects, which aim to support young people and prepare them for independent living.

Kind regards

YMCA Humber Sleep Easy Team

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