Featuring: Help Bristol’s Homeless

Article
By Tom McGrath
12/02/19

Subtitle

Can we end homelessness for good?

Contents

1. Homelessness in the UK

2. Jasper Thompson

3. Help Bristol's Homeless

4. Zac & Jay

5. Collaborative Thinking

Help Bristol's Homeless

Housing insecurity in the UK is at a critical point and it is vital that we end homelessness rather than just managing it. Follow the story of Jasper Thompson and Help Bristol’s Homeless as they aim to provide long-term solutions to helping the homeless.

Subtitle

Can we end homelessness for good?

Contents

1. Homelessness in the UK

2. Jasper Thompson

3. Help Bristol's Homeless

4. Zac & Jay

5. Collaborative Thinking

Housing insecurity in the UK is at a critical point and it is vital that we end homelessness rather than just managing it. Follow the story of Jasper Thompson and Help Bristol’s Homeless as they aim to provide long-term solutions to helping the homeless.
1. Homelessness in the UK

Homelessness and housing insecurity in the UK is increasing year on year, with reports now suggesting that as many as 1 in 200 people are now homeless nationally. Many organisations suggest that these reports will most likely underestimate the number of people that are homeless, due to those that experience ‘hidden homelessness’. There is a significant amount of people across the UK that will stay in hostels, squats, B&Bs, overcrowded accommodation or on the floors and sofas of friends and family. Though it may not always seem it, these people are homeless too. Housing in the UK is failing a large part of society, and the circumstances for those that are homeless are generally getting worse. On average, the life expectancy of a homeless person is just 47 years. And if you are homeless you are 17 times more likely to be subject to violence, and 9 times more likely to take your own life.

We can all spare some change, or buy some food for those on that are sleeping rough, but this solution is only short-term. What these people really need is a stable home, so that they can get their life back on track.

Solutions are needed to end homelessness, not just manage it.

2. Jasper Thompson

In 2017, Jasper Thompson started handing out hot food to the homeless each Sunday morning, in the centre of Bristol. Since becoming aware of the increasing number of homeless people in the city, he felt a responsibility to help. Through his contacts, Jasper was offered an old mobile home, as well as a site to place it on. On the site, there was also a shipping container, which Jasper converted into a self-contained micro flat. This formed the foundations of what would create 'Help Bristol’s Homeless'. The site now hosts an impressive 20 converted shipping containers, as well as a converted double decker bus, all of which provide temporary accommodation for the homeless.

Jasper Thompson

Help Bristol's Homeless

3. Help Bristol's Homeless

Help Bristol’s Homeless is built on the principle that a home is not a luxury, it is an entitlement. To most of us, this may seem like a given, but unfortunately for many people, it is not. It remains almost impossible for individuals to improve their lives without stable accommodation. Whilst clean clothing and food does help those that are forced to sleep rough, ultimately this does not get them off the streets. The same goes for programmes that help the homeless deal with issues like substance abuse. These programmes remain extremely important, but it is difficult for homeless people to overcome such problems when their primary concern is finding a safe place to sleep.

The first step is to lay a foundation for homeless people to get back on track. This is exactly what Jasper Thompson and Help Bristol’s Homeless are doing, by providing free accommodation. At the site, those that are homeless can stay for up to 12 months, if they wish to. However, Jasper says that no one has stayed for the full 12 months, with people often finding work and their own place to live before long. This is an unbelievable achievement both for Jasper, and every individual who has used the site in Bristol. We hope that Jasper and his team can continue to grow and do great things in Bristol, and other people around the country can take inspiration from this project, kickstarting their own initiatives with the aim of ending homelessness.

4. Zac & Jay

We first came across this project through the Zac and Jay Show. Zac and Jay first came to be known for publicity stunts such as crashing the Olympic Bus Parade, and infiltrating the Connor McGregor vs Floyd Mayweather press conference in London. They have since launched a YouTube channel, which is where we learned about Jasper's project. The boys spoke to residents of the site, and what becomes clear is the sense of purpose that the site gives to people. Help Bristol’s Homeless not only invites people to stay, but also encourages the residents to muck-in with the maintenance and expansion of the site. This helps the site to grow and evolve, but more importantly, it helps the visiting residents. By re-building confidence, and relearning their skills, they are able to increase their employability potential, and in turn get their life back on track.

It is great that Zac and Jay have raised this issue and shared Jasper’s story with the world, but as Jasper said in the video, the thing that they need most is money. Through an event hosted in collaboration with Dazed Promotions, the boys raised around £2000 and have raised an ever rising £5630 through a GoFundMe page, dedicated to Help Bristol’s Homeless.

The Zac & Jay Show

5. Collaborative Thinking

Something that we have already touched upon multiple times on Dropout, is the power of collaboration. Help Bristol’s Homeless is built solely on people pooling together their individual resources and efforts, to make a change. Jasper had the initial idea and what helped take it forward was other people who believed in that idea, offering support in any way they could. Whether that be their time, a shipping container or a bus. Zac and Jay have worked in a similar way, by inviting collaboration with Dazed Productions to raise money for the project. You always need the seed of an idea to start something, but collaboration is often the real catalyst for change. Two minds really are better than one. In today's culture, collaborations have been a bit of a cash-cow when it comes to clothing, events and beyond. It’s clear that collaboration can be effective in making money for brands, but surely there are greater issues at stake? Let's focus our collective energy towards causes that can make a noticeable change in the world.

  • Featuring: Help Bristol’s Homeless

Bibliography

Help Bristol’s Homeless (https://helpbristolshomeless.co.uk/)
The Zac & Jay Show
‘Turning shipping containers into homes for homeless: Meet Jasper’ – The Zac and Jay Show
Crisis – About Homelessness (https://www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/)

Social

Help Bristol’s Homeless (@helpbristolshomeless)
Zac Alsop (@zacalsop)
Jamie Rawsthorne (@jamie_rawsthorne)

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