In January 2020 we had planned on starting this particular GO FUND But shortly after that the Pandemic took place and some of our team based in London had to return back to their countries due to the global shutdown.
7 Months later here we are. The lockdown has eased and things seem to be slowly returning back to "normailty"
THE PANDEMIC AND ITS EFFECT ON BLACK HOMELESS PEOPLE
During the pandemic various hotels including Intercontinental Hotel Group, Travelodge, Best Western and Accor provided rooms across the capital to make sure homeless Londoners were protected from the virus. The scheme was ran by homeless charity St Mungo's and funded by a £10.55million grant from the Mayor of London and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government. But after some of our street interviews and meet ups we've noticed that there were barriers accessing homeless provisions and some of these "service needs" for the African / Afro Carribeans in the UK.
With that we have decided as the lockdown has eased to continue with our efforts to reach out and support the African / Afro Carribean Homeless by providing them Essential Everyday Packs.
OUR INITIAL ESSENTIAL PACKS
Essential Packs we have for Women:
Sanitary Towels, Underwear, Socks, Teeshirts, Toothbruths, Flannels, Toothpaste, Deodorant, Soap, Handsanitizers, Wipes (Face Wipes) Reusable Water Bottles,
Water, High Protein / Carb snacks.
Essential Packs we have for Men.
Underwear, Socks, Teeshirts, Toothbruths, Flannels, Toothpaste, Deodorant,
Soap, Handsanitizers, Wipes (Face Wipes) Reusable Water Bottles, Water,
High Protein / Carb snacks.
We pledge for your support to raise this fund to further asssit in providing MORE
Essentials in these packs. Below are some of the health issues weve noticed homeless people have and what we plan to include in our next Essential Pack with your donations.
1. Skin & foot problems
People experiencing homelessness are often out and about for long periods of time, sometimes in ill-fitting shoes and worn-out socks. Your donation will help us add more socks, comfortable footwear to each Essential Pack.
2. Dental problems
The inability to access preventative and restorative care, combined with poor hygiene, often results in tooth decay and other oral health issues which can be expensive to resolve. Your donation will help us add Toothpastes / Toothbrush, mouthwash for better oral health in each Essential Pack.
3. Respiratory illness
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchitis and other forms of respiratory disease are also common among people experiencing homelessness which is caused by sleeping on cold surfaces during cold weathers. Your donation will help us add Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Thermal Winter Wear in each Essential Pack.
4. Hunger and nutrition
Poor nutrition can also contribute to a number of chronic conditions over time, and issues like fatigue and weakness in the short term. Your donation will help us add Holistic / Nutritious food items in each Essential Pack.
5. Also your donation will provide Racksacks rather than the tote bags we used initially. Racksacks we find allows more items to be carried comfortably and makes
movement easier.
6. Unintentional Injuries
The harsh conditions of being homeless often lead to serious injury or death.
Unintentional injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among homeless men. Injuries are often the result of falls or being struck.
Your donation will help us add a small medical kit in each Essential Pack.
7. We also provide our own safe reusable water bottles as plastic bottles contain bisphenol A (BPA) and other plastic toxins that seeps out of the bottle making their way into the bloodstream, which can cause a host of problems and damage.
8. There will be monthly updates on the homeless people we meet on here
DONATE HERE
With the pledged amount we plan to provide at least 20 Essential Packs for The African and Caribbean Homless in London City. For more updates you can follow us on Instagram @africax5 or on https://www.gofundme.com/f/working-with-the-homeless-in-london
Thank you!
