Meeting the challenge of transforming commercial buildings into havens of respect, warmth and energy can never be underestimated, this year Crisis is engaging a team of young homeless people to create somewhere they would like to spend Christmas.

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Monday Dec 03, 2007

Team work

My name is Abisoye Rokosu I am 23 years old, I come from London. I have been homeless for the last 7 months. I became homeless due to my sickness, I was suffering from over active thyroid and this causes a lot of irritating symptoms, so I got kicked out by my aunty because she couldn’t take the irritation and it was quite dangerous for her children.

I am now living in a all women’s hostel, I am allowed to stay in the hostel for two years before I got my own permanent accommodation, I am also on the housing list with Southwark Council biding for my own home hopefully I will be leaving the hostel very soon.

I am doing a project with Crisis, which involves setting up a Christmas centre for the homeless, which involves decorating the place and also working as part of a team.

Out of this project I am hoping to gain from working with people of different backgrounds and also gain a qualification to put on my CV, to help me apply for university.

So far we went to the Tate Modern, and we have been involved in taking photos which will be signs at the centre.

Posted by Team ( 5:27 PM )
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From Paradise to homelessness

Hello, my name is Ashunindkumar Sohatee, most people know me as Ritesh, I am 24 years old. I am from Pamplemousses, a district of Mauritius in the north of the island. A lot of people say that Mauritius is a paradise, so I have gone from living in 'paradise' to being homeless. I became involved in a wild lifestyle, involving gambling and partying. I didn't know where to stop and one day I woke up with no money left and nowhere to turn to. I had managed to alienate everyone from my life slowly but didn't notice it. So, here I was with no home, sleeping on buses, eating out of bins, using dirty facilities to have a wash. I started meeting other fellow homeless people and started going to day centres where I could have a wash, learn new things and get on courses. Its now been 2 and a half years since I became homeless, I am currently living in a squat with a few friends. I have just started volunteering with Crisis. 

 This project is about designing a space where homeless people can come and relax over the Christmas period, a place where they can chill out and make new friends, a place where they can find love, joy and happiness, but most importantly don't have to be alone for Christmas.

I joined this project because it gives me a chance to help others and bring some of the things I learned on the streets to practicality. Also at the end of this project I will get to have a certificate and qualification which I will be to use afterwards. But besides this the joy and happiness that I will get to feel on completion will be worth my time and effort that I have committed myself to.

Right now we are at the end of our second week and we have already laid plans and ideas of how we want the room to be and it is running well enough and hope to get it finished on time.

Posted by Team ( 5:23 PM )
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Searching for stability

Hi, my name is Jamaal, I was born in London, I spent my formative years in South Africa. I consider London my home as I was born here and feel more at home here.

I became homeless about a year ago and feel very fortunate that I only slept rough for a fortnight before I managed to get into a squat. Having lived most of my life under my parents wing, it was such a shock when I realised I no longer had a place to call home. My mother and father equipped me with all the tools I needed to survive before they passed on. Sadly nothing prepared me for this and it badly affected me I lost my discipline and direction, I started drinking and partying uncontrollably.

I lost my first and then my relationship started to break down and when I treated on my girlfriend of 3 years that was the last straw, I was out. Since then I have been in 2 squats and hopefully I will be able to find somewhere more stable.

Posted by Team ( 5:21 PM )
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Having hope

Hi my name is Ally I am 25 years old, and I come from Mauritius. I have been homeless for one and a half years. I became homeless because my visas expired and I lost my job as well. Now I am living in a squat in London. Homelessness is not an easy life to live, you always struggle and you can’t afford a good life.

I hope to get a job and get out of this life. I hope very soon I will be OK and everything will be alright. Crisis helps homeless people, for example in getting training and finding work.

Posted by Team ( 5:19 PM )
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What's the project

The Crisis Youth Volunteering Programme, funded by the youth volunteering charity ‘V’ offers young homeless people (18-25) the opportunity to work as a team to organise and put on events, exploring issues around homelessness. This also provides the opportunity for them to work towards a qualification, supporting their progression into employment or further education.

Every year Crisis refurbishes empty buildings of various sizes to become temporary homes for more than 1,500 of London's homeless and vulnerably housed people over the festive period, providing warmth and companionship at a time that can be a particularly lonely for those without a home or family. We aim to help homeless people change their lives, by offering access to healthcare and advice services as well as the opportunity to get involved in learning activities. By providing these opportunities and linking people into year-round services, we aim to give everyone a new start for the New Year.

Meeting the challenge of transforming commercial buildings into havens of respect, warmth and energy can never be underestimated, this year we are engaging a team of young homeless people to create somewhere they would like to spend Christmas.

I hope you enjoy our blog.

Best wishes,

Helen - Youth Volunteering Co-ordinator at Crisis.

Posted by Team ( 5:16 PM )
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