Help us support more people like Shane this winter
Currently 4,780 people are reported as rough sleeping in London – a dangerous increase of 18% from last year. SPEAR is a lifeline to those in our community who need a place to call home; individuals like Shane who we’ve supported from homelessness to independence.
Rebecca, one of our dedicated outreach workers, first encountered Shane on a cold October night sleeping rough outside Richmond Lending Library.
“Shane was very polite and kind with us and was willing to do what he could to help himself off the streets,” Rebecca recalls. “I felt for Shane as he had been sleeping rough for some time. He also has three daughters and wanted to be the best father he could, which I can only imagine was challenging while rough sleeping.”
Rebecca and the SPEAR team worked tirelessly to address Shane’s immediate needs, develop a plan of support and when a space opened up at our Penny Wade House hostel, Shane was able to escape the cold streets and truly begin his journey towards independence.
Rebecca shared, “It’s such a beautiful thing to be able to see people work their way through the support that SPEAR offers and reach a point where they can start helping people too.”
Today, Shane has not only found stable housing but has also become a volunteer for SPEAR, using his lived experience to help others facing similar challenges.
