Day 25-26 - 'Hungry for the Needs of the Homeless' Challenge
Services Experienced
Lifeshare Manchester has been serving Manchester's vulnerable communities for over 40 years. Gordon visited Lifeshares' weekend breakfast services. They were also offering clothes, haircuts and information about the different services available to the vulnerable across Manchester.
The staff were really helpful and friendly, offering lots of conversation.
Manchester Observations
A lot of the services across Manchester have people manning the doors as a result of anti-social behaviour, and they are funded by the local council - something that Gordon hasn't seen in the other cities he has visited.
There are a lot of homeless people in Manchester, so much so, it seems that the general public have become accustomed to seeing this (there were people sitting at the window of a cafe and seemed oblivious the homeless person lying in front with his wheelchair to the side, not receiving any help).
Many of the homeless diners at the breakfast service were high on drugs, and there were also 6 people in wheelchairs with one leg - a cost of their drug abuse.
Gordon's Movements
Gordon's been utilising many of the services across Manchester, and has been amazed how much there is available to the homeless in the city.
On day 25, Gordon got to see his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. It caused him to reflect on how lonely all the Dads and Grandads on the streets must feel - for him, this is a 30 day challenge with hope intact, and knowing he will be back with his family at the end of it. However, imagine being hopelessly homeless estranged from family... 'it’s painful even reflecting on it'.
Gordon visited Audacious Church on day 26 morning as received a really warm welcome. After Church, he walked the streets of Manchester and saw many more homeless people, some of which he had seen at the breakfast service.
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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