The death of a volunteer.

We are sad to announce the death of Ronald Mosney, a much loved volunteer, who died just before Christmas, at the age of 89. He will be greatly missed by all his friends at the Day Centre.

Ron's funeral was held at Vinters Park Crematorium which was packed with wellwishers who wanted to celebrate his life as a wartime pilot, MCC volunteer, good friend to many and a true gentleman. There were floral tributes from many including one from ex volunteers and trustees.

Living in cars

Since Christmas we have supported six people who are holding down full time professional jobs whilst living in cars and on other people’s floors.  Three others have obtained work in that time and are desperate to get housed so that they can maintain the work.

It is so easy to fall into this situation – the loss of a job can mean the loss of a mortgage or rented property, regaining a job can be too late for some to make the payments needed and not all landlords will accept housing benefit

The lack of sleep, lack of facilities, lack of dignity, lack of time to change circumstances due to work commitments and keeping clean and tidy and able to do the day’s work must be almost impossible.

Sleeping in a car is cold, cramped and anything but relaxing, the car has to be legal and maintained to be on the street which is costly and a new location found regularly to prevent being ‘reported’

Attending for work looking presentable is difficult when there is nowhere to hang clothes overnight, and no where to wash in the morning.  The Day Centre can support people by opening up early and providing a shower and clean clothes but sometimes the work is out of area and early shifts prevent attendance.

The impact on self esteem and keeping up the façade at work must be very draining and coupled with this when you are at work all day there is no time to go on accommodation searches or attend local agents and council housing departments,  so it can prove very difficult to effectively change circumstances.

This is not to mention of course those who have lost their job and their accommodation and cannot find work again so easily.  For them it is the catch 22 of trying to find a job whilst they are living on the street or in a car.

The Day Centre can help by providing a postal contact point, advice and advocacy on job searches, benefits, housing and the facility to keep clean and presentable but we cannot change the immediate circumstances and for some it means a slow transition through the route of Benefit applications and social housing – it takes time but we do get there.