CARIS Haringey, one of the charities supported by this church, exists solely to work with and for homeless families. Last year it celebrated its tenth anniversary as a separate registered charity. This was a big achievement when many small voluntary organisations struggle to raise money to offer vital services to their communities. For some of the families served by CARIS ten years, and longer, is the period of time in which they have remained in temporary accommodation. Looking back over that period the number of homeless families in Haringey has averaged 5,000 per year. Haringey is ranked 18th out of 354 local authorities in England in terms of average deprivation. Homelessness is one of the greatest challenges it faces.
CARIS Haringey is often the starting point for homeless families, with advice that gets them registered with a GP or tackles a housing or immigration problem. Ongoing services from previous years, which I described in my article in the February 2008 magazine, are: Outreach and Advice Services ( 277 new families seen in 2007-2008); the Weekly Play, Education and Advice Drop-in Centre (this year with workshops by a new company Voice with Dance); the Mobile Toy Library (more than a lending service, it is a befriending and information service for isolated families, and safety equipment is also supplied); the Summer Playscheme and Christmas Parties; and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes, in conjunction with the College of North East London.
Two ESOL projects were also run. One enabled over 50 asylum seekers to access ESOL, literacy, community leadership and media training. The second was AEquipping for Choice@, the aim of which is to work with residents in Haringey and empower and equip them with knowledge and tools to engage as active citizens in the borough and access council services.
New in 2007-2008 was a Fathers Project, to develop services and networks which supported fathers engaging with their children. A Fathers’ Summer event was held, attended by over 20 families. CARIS also hosted a 5-week Fathers Make Music workshop, exploring various kinds of music and rhythm and using two part rhythm with adults playing one part and children the other, building up confidence, co-operation and participation.
CARIS is a member of Haringey Strategic Integration Forum. Its public-voluntary partnership working includes relationships with public authorities responsible for health, housing, welfare, social services and children’s services. These arrangements enable CARIS to make contact with potential clients and to make appropriate referrals back to statutory providers and regulators.
In the last two or three years the CARIS Trustees have managed to build up funds sufficient to enable them to keep going for a minimum of three months in the event of a major withdrawal of funding. Funding comes mainly from grants by Haringey Council and bodies such as charitable trusts, much of which is restricted to particular uses, but a significant proportion comes from donations by churches and individuals. Such donations are particularly valuable because they are normally unrestricted. Some of the churches which support CARIS also provide donations in kind and volunteer helpers, especially to the Christmas parties and summer playscheme.
Two or three copies of CARIS’ last annual report will be placed at the back of the church for those who would like to read more. This includes a letter from a client, a single homeless mother with a two month old son, published with permission. An extract from this reads:
AHomelessness for me was not just about having no place to live. It was about losing my independence and purpose in life, being isolated, humiliated and ignored. CARIS take my problems away, helped me to understand the processes in housing and benefits. Offer me advice, guidance and practical ways in which I could move from homelessness to Bed and Breakfast accommodation with my child@.