Alison Connor is the manager of our assessment centre at Langsdale Street. She began her Whitechapel career there 28 years ago and, having then been a manager at one of our family centres, has returned back to the centre.
She shares, “Langsdale Centre is the frontline of helping people who are homeless. It’s a place where people can come when they are in trouble. Actually, it’s a lifeline. Rough sleepers may just pop in for showers, clothing or a bite to eat, but it’s a golden opportunity to build a rapport and start working on the issues that are keeping them on the street. We look for opportunities to do this with every person coming through our doors at Langsdale Street.
Rent increases can lead to homelessness
“Homelessness can affect any one of us. Even people who have had tenancies for years and years, who may be working and can’t picture themselves ever being homeless – the landlord puts up the rent, job loss leads to a house repossession and they find themselves plunged into this situation. It can be people who never dreamed of it, including people who look secure and hold professional jobs and might seem ‘safe’ from such problems.”
Alison began working for The Whitechapel Centre in 1997 after volunteering at a hostel running art classes there. “As the weeks went by and I realised that rather than being interested in artwork, I wanted to hear about the experiences of homeless people - how they’d found themselves where they were and the various and sometimes complex reasons for it. It really challenged my perception of the homeless community.”
We never give up
“I really enjoy working for the Whitechapel Centre, there’s such a sense of purpose. We see people as individuals and we never give up on them. When situations are complicated, everybody gets stuck in and we involve the whole team in coming up with solutions.
“Staff here at Langsdale Street can be really up against it, but we pull together and I’m so proud to be part of a team never gives up, and gives its all to people facing homelessness. Many times the problems have seemed insurmountable to the person experiencing homelessness and to us. We work in a very person centred and trauma informed way and I believe this builds faith in us. We get creative and have out of the box thinking and it is possible to turn the impossible around.
“It’s important to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to be supportive and non judgemental. We ensure there’s a unique support plan for everyone, led by them so that they’re involved in making their own decisions.”
The challenges come from all directions. Pets especially. “On many occasions I’ve met people more worried about their animals than themselves. It adds another level of difficulty. We have dealt with so many pets, whether it’s to find a foster home for them until the owner is housed, or beg a hostel to allow an animal to stay - we always work something out. Many a staff member has gone home at night with an unexpected temporary pet!”
Looking back
With the 50th year Alison reflects on one of the first people she supported.
“Robbie was in his 60s and had lived with his mum for his whole life, never in a home of their own, but moving around digs and cheap hotels for many years until she had died. Robbie was very vulnerable and unable to cope. He soon lost his accommodation and became street homeless. This brought him to The Whitechapel Centre where he came daily to eat and had found a community to be part of. We managed to find a self-contained flat in a sheltered scheme for Robbie. Though a roof over his head was great, after living with mum for so long, he’d never learnt independent skills - he’d never managed his own money, cooked a meal, or made a bed.
“It seemed hard to me to imagine how we could get Robbie from where he was at the start, to be able to live independently and manage a flat. Robbie himself didn’t think he could do it. Our now CEO David worked with Robbie to come up with a support plan based on what Robbie told us he needed. We visited weekly, needing to help him a great deal at the start whilst he learned to do things with us, then less, as he learned to do them independently. Work included linking him with social groups and developing friendships.
“Over a period of a year or so we stuck with Robbie until he was able to manage by himself. He died when he was in his late 60s, but for those last few years he managed to sustain his flat and he had the chance to be an independent person in his own right, with a home, comfy bed, friendships and living a good life.
“This was a good lesson for me in what can be achieved with person centred support, which is what we pride ourselves on delivering at The Whitechapel Centre. It also taught me never to give up.”
