Diocese of Southwark - News: 'At Home in Waterloo'


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Home Welcome Parishes Cathedral The Bridge Mothers' Union Organisation Resources Contacts What's On News Contents	*'At Home in Waterloo': local agencies commit to reduce homelessness* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 28 January 2000 Homelessness Tsar Louise Casey, the Bishop of Southwark and local councillors joined homeless people, homelessness agencies, local businesses and local residents today to produce joint 'commitments to action', with the aim of transforming one of London's most renowned areas for rough sleeping. Participants in 'At Home in Waterloo' resolved to work and lobby towards measures including: More qualified and linked outreach workers Education for young people on leaving home and homelessness Genuine and far-reaching local consultation on community facilities Proper care for those who genuinely are a threat to safety Common standards for hostels Sheltered housing and resettlement support Self-build and building on derelict land. The conference, part of the London String of Pearls Millennium Festival, brought housed and homeless local people together to build on good experience and practice. The technique, called 'Appreciative Inquiry', helped them identify examples of times when they have felt happy in Waterloo and explore ways to make those widespread. Bernie Ward from the New Economics Foundation, which promotes the Appreciative Inquiry approach, explained: 'Usually, the only opportunity "socially excluded" people get to make change is through confrontation - which immediately puts everyone at odds with each other. This technique means people can actually work together to make effective change.' Quotes from the day included: The people we talk about are preyed upon and suffer on the streets. The challenge here today and in the future is to assist people to have more power in their lives.' (Louise Casey, Homelessness Tsar) 'Those that feel themselves excluded and without power - we can listen to those voices, so nobody need feel their voice isn't heard.' (Bishop of Southwark) 'If one group in Waterloo isn't OK, everyone else isn't OK too.' (participant) 'At Home in Waterloo' was organised by a steering group of local homelessness agencies, supported by the New Economics Foundation; and the 'Imagine Waterloo' project. Ends Notes to editors: for more details, or photographs, contact Radhika Holmström on 0181 699 0551. For further information contact: Diocesan Communications Officer Tel: 020-7939 9400 Mobile: 07831-694021 Fax: 020-7939 9468
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