This #WorldHomelessnessDay is a moment for us all to stop and think about what homelessness really looks like here in Stockport and why The Wellspring’s work matters more than ever.
Homelessness is on the rise and more people are finding themselves without a safe place to call home and for so many, it’s through no fault of their own. With a shortage of social housing and the cost of living going up and up, finding somewhere secure to live is harder than it’s ever been.
We’re seeing it every day and The Wellspring is busier than it’s ever been. People are spending longer living on the streets, and the path out of homelessness is rarely simple and not always visible. For every person sleeping rough, there are many more sofa surfing, staying with friends or family, living in cars, or stuck in temporary accommodation. Homelessness has so many faces, and the reality is heart breaking and there is no quick-fix on the horizon.
So, what can we do?
At The Wellspring, we provide a safe space where people can come to access hot meals, clean clothes, and showers, but also where they can connect with a team who will walk alongside them. We don’t have a magic wand, but we do have the compassion, understanding, and commitment to help people navigate the complex systems they’re faced with.
For some, progress starts small like using the shower for the first time, or trusting us enough to sit down and talk. For others, it’s feeling able to let us support them at a hospital appointment, or beginning the long journey back into secure housing. Every step matters, no matter how small.
With on-site healthcare and support from brilliant local partners, we do everything we can to help people move forward because every moment of trust, every small piece of progress, is part of someone’s journey towards a brighter future. And we know, because we’ve seen it happen: people can and do build lives beyond homelessness.
But we can’t do it alone.
Homelessness isn’t inevitable, it’s something our community can tackle together and that’s why we’re asking for your support this World Homelessness Day.
By donating, volunteering, or even just sharing our message, you’re helping us to keep the doors open, keep the hot meals coming, and keep walking alongside people who need us most.
Together, we can build futures beyond homelessness.
– Alex Knight, Manager at The Wellspring.
