Day 22-24 - 'Hungry for the Needs of the Homeless' Challenge
Lisbon Services Experienced
Gordon received food from both organisations below. They both serve the homeless every night with lots of food - more than enough for their dinner and breakfast the next day. The homeless were treated with dignity, with volunteers conversing with them and giving a warm smile.
Noor'Fatima Voluntariado is an organisation born from the desire to help others. They distribute meals daily to homeless people.
Casa Centro De Apoio Ao Sem Abrigo is a Homeless Support Centre in Lisbon with a vision to see 'a world in which all beings can be free from suffering and its causes, helping to meet basic human needs such as food and clothing'.
Manchester Services Experienced
Booth Centre is a community run day centre, with a vision 'for everyone to have a secure home and the opportunity to have a good quality of life'.
They provide food for the homeless and vulnerable and have a map on the wall showing where those visiting the centre sleep (rough sleepers and those in temporary accommodation people) - helping point others in some direction of where they might be able to get shelter or community at night.
Gordon got some lunch at the centre and experienced a really welcoming atmosphere with music and laughter amongst the visitors and volunteers.
Mustard Tree is a charity aiming to combat homelessness and poverty. They provide food, furniture and clothing; education, training and work placements; 1-2-1 support, advice and advocacy, creative clubs and classes. To receive these services, you need to register.
Gordon wasn't able to register but did receive some clean socks.
Coffee 4 Craig was set up as a result of the charity founder losing her brother when he was homeless. The charity provide food, support, showers, and a welcoming space, also providing a place for people to sleep during the day (some rough sleepers prefer to sleep during the day because it is safer). Gordon waited for the centre to open at 6pm for their evening hot food service.
Gordon's Movements
Day 22 (Lisbon) - Goron spent the day walking around Lisbon trying to locate services. Unfortunately there was a lot of misinformation, and similar to a lot of cities - you needed to register with social services. He used some of his begging money to buy 2 bread rolls for 68p. He sat and passively begged and a little girl came over and gave him a digestive biscuit. He then utilised the food handouts by CASA and Noor'Fatima on both day 22 and 23.
Day 23 (Lisbon) - Gordon started feeling and looking more worse for wear, also stating he could smell his clothes, and they were not smelling good. He doesn't mind how he looks, or if his clothes aren't ironed, but he does want to be able to feel clean - something that isn't easy to do when homeless. He was also missing his family - getting a tiny (and likely uncomparable) insight into the level of loneliness the homeless and vulnerable must feel day to day.
That evening, he headed to the airport to sleep for the night before his flight to Manchester the next day. Whilst trying to find a place to sleep in the airport, Gordon felt targeted when a man and wife called him a 'gypsy' and started laughing at him - remember to treat people with kindness. Everyone has a story, and everyone is a person who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
Day 24 (Manchester) - Gordon arrived in Manchester and located lots of amazing services available to the homeless and vulnerable (read above). There is a large homeless issue in Manchester, and there are flyers around the city for a protest on Saturday 28th June against Manchester's homelessness.
Be kind to the vulnerable and give them a chance.
If you want to donate to the 'Hungry for the Needs of the Homeless' Challenge, click here. Your donation will go directly to organisations Gordon witnesses making a difference in vulnerable communities.
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Thank you for your support!
