1999 / 2000: A REVIEW
West London Initiative on Single Homelessness

The government has promised to "eradicate" two thirds of rough sleeping by the year 2002. To achieve this heavy reliance is placed on the ability and willingness of the voluntary sector.

This presents greater opportunities, and bigger challenges, to the voluntary sector than hitherto and encourages us to seek innovative solutions to age-old problems.

Much of the problem stems from the lack of knowledge by the general public of the causes and effects of homelessness, how easily this can occur and how difficult it is to recover from. This can be countered by education, an area where voluntary and statutory agencies can work together producing and making available education materials.

Increased requests to WISH, and other organisations, for research data demonstrate that there is a growing awareness of the problem that faces us. In response to this WISH will be creating information packs tailored to the needs of differing users, which will be regularly updated as the situation changes.

WISH is committed to enhancing and developing the Christmas Roof year by year. Each year a survey of the "guests" is undertaken to ensure that those who use these services determine future developments.

During 2000 WISH is going to be drawing up plans with a view to offering an All Night Café service throughout the year. This will serve those who have nowhere else to go, and will offer free and affordable food and hot drinks.

WISH is now in discussions with Cricklewood Homeless Concern to take over, on a Sunday, their day centre to run a Breakfast Club with the possibility of developing it into an all day service.

To enable these plans to reach fruition WISH must develop further both its donor base and the number and range of skills of its volunteer force. For the major projects, the All Night Café and The Breakfast Club regular ongoing funding for several years will be sought.