Residents on the Isle of Wight are, via an online petition, calling on the MP, Andrew Turner, to take the plight of the Island’s homeless to Parliament.
End of the overnight shelter
The petition highlights how Sunday night was the last night the winter overnight shelter at Downside Community Centre would be open to those living on the streets.
This was the third year the overnight shelter has operated from Downside between 1st December and 28th February.
There are thought to be around 20 people who have been using the night shelter and with temperatures set to drop further later this week, many are concerned for their welfare now the provision won’t continue.
Support the Soup Kitchen
The petition also highlights the work of Trevor Blaney and his Pop-Up Soup Kitchen. The petition explains how Trev has bought and set up a mobile catering kitchen, negotiated a deal with Morrisons for donations of food and identified and fed numerous homeless people across the Island.
It goes on to explain the site he found to distribute food from, in Newport, “is now inappropriate for various health and safety and risk reasons”.
The petition
The petition asks Andrew Turner to,
- Immediately find a site from which the Pop Up Soup Kitchen can operate and expedite the regulatory requirements so the homeless can be fed.
- Bring the fact that there is no provision for homeless shelter to the House of Commons, via PMQ and make a plan for a full time homeless shelter, with provision of food, showers and professional help to routes out of homelessness.
At time of publishing, the petition had 69 signatures.
Future plans for Downside
Local ward member, Geoff Lumley, explained on social media earlier today that the use of Downside by those organising the overnight shelter has always been a temporary measure.
He’s worked with others to secure Barton Primary School being able to move out of its current premises – which it has outgrown – to Downside following its refurbishment.
East Newport Children’s Centre will share the site and Cllr Lumley says, “a smaller, but better Downside Community Centre, to be run by Pan Together” will also be accommodated.
Image: pedrosimoes7 under CC BY 2.0
