WHILE homelessness in Guernsey might be, in some ways, unique, many of the solutions used in other jurisdictions may still be applicable, according to Homeless Network Scotland, whose representatives visited the island for a return examination of the island’s homelessness problem.
The charity returned to the island to support development of homelessness delivery and implementation plan, four years after its first visit, which resulted in the establishment of the island’s own homelessness charity, At Home in Guernsey.
‘We have been working on a strategy to effectively end homelessness in Guernsey,’ said At Home in Guernsey chief executive Charlie Cox.
‘We recognise that there’s a huge housing crisis at the moment, and our primary focus is on the people that that is causing the most harm to – people who are in insecure housing or living outside.
‘Homelessness Network Scotland were instrumental in creating the first Homelessness Report about five years ago, so we wanted to invite them back now to say “this is where we are now”, and equally, see what we can be learning from them. They have a wealth of experience and expertise.’
Homelessness Network Scotland’s initial visit to the island in 2022 yielded a report and renewed will to tackle the island’s homelessness problem, which has seen At Home in Guernsey working with deputies to produce the homelessness delivery and implementation plan. Since the network’s first visit, the island has also seen the institution of a dedicated Housing Committee, with Deputy Garry Collins taking on political responsibility for the issue.
‘Here, homelessness is an issue that’s really hidden out of sight, out of mind, and so I really want to do as homelessness lead is to champion that conversation,’ he said.
‘We’ve made a real partnership of lessons they’ve learned, and, as the Committee for Housing was only formed last year, we’re really starting afresh looking at all of this.’
Deputy Collins emphasised that, from his perspective, it is the lack of affordable housing supply that is the primary factor in perpetuating the island’s homelessness problem, though issues like addiction, illness, abuse, and crime were also contributing factors.
‘It really all comes back to the lack of supply the government building in the last 10 years,’ he said.
‘That’s the emergency conversation, and that’s what’s great about these guys coming in – they’re independent. I think it’s important to gain a third-party perspective on what can be done next.’
During their multi-day stay, the representatives from Homelessness Network Scotland met with those at the forefront of tackling homelessness – on a governmental, charitable and community level – as well as some individuals affected by homelessness, past and present. The visit is set to yield a comprehensive report on the island’s current situation, and its potential paths into the future.
‘Guernsey is a unique context, but some of the solutions are universal and evidence-based,’ said Jamie Milne, the network’s policy and communications adviser.
‘Everything we do is backed by evidence, international, local, and lived experience as well.’
The emphasis on incorporating the personal testimonies of those who have directly experience being homeless is something that the organisation reiterated strenuously, arguing that the best policies have been co-produced by those most affected by them.
‘People who have experienced homelessness here actually know what needs to change. They know what would have helped them, and what wasn’t there when they needed it. And there’s also a real appetite among those people to play an active role in making things better,’ said Michelle Major, the network’s equality and involvement adviser.
‘There are really great examples of people with lived experience co-producing strategies for governments across the board, and that can be enabled in lots of different ways – like an advisory group to the States, or an intermediary charity.’
Having met a variety of local people with such experience, Ms Major noted that two issues were especially augmented in Guernsey – social stigma and wealth inequality.
‘The one theme that absolutely runs through every interaction that I’ve had with people is the impact of stigma,’ she said.
‘Especially because in Guernsey, there’s such a small community, the stigma can really impact how willing people are to get the necessary help.
‘And, the other thing we heard a lot was that you have very stark wealth inequality.’
The network is looking at local solutions in an upcoming report. They may not be revolutionary, they said, but while there may be some differences about homelessness in Guernsey compared to other places in Britain, similar solutions can be adopted.
‘The context is unique, but much of the solutions will be the same as what works in other places,’ Ms Major said.
‘The solutions are based at home and in community, rather than in types of accommodation and temporary options. It’s about people having somewhere safe to settle, and then start to build all the other blocks of their life on top of that.
‘But that doesn’t sit just with housing. That needs input and support from Health and Social Care, from all the other parts of the system that are involved in those people’s lives.’
Ms Major said it had been a privilege to see the progress made in the island since her team’s initial work.
‘I don’t really don’t think the problem’s insurmountable. The willingness and the expertise are there.
‘It’s just really important to use the solutions that work and to have the drive to make them.’
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