Youth Homeless Campaign aiming to raise awareness of issues in Croydon
A YOUNG woman has taken on the fight against homelessness after being thrown into the situation herself.
Jessica Chipperfield said she left her father's home in Addiscombe after his partner learned she was gay.
The 20-year-old has launched the Youth Homeless Campaign to help others in similar situations.
Jessica, who is sofa-surfing between friends, said: "I want to raise awareness of homelessness so people can understand the reasons for it – it is not the person's fault.
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"Young people need to be given better advice and help in their way, rather than getting pushed and shoved about."
Jessica said she was also spurred into action after being disappointed with help she received from Croydon Council over her housing problems.
She said: "They gave me an information pack and told me I can get rent for £290 to £340. There is a lack of help and advice."
Jessica and co-founder Michael Castle, from New Addington, are now developing the campaign, talking to homeless people, gathering contacts and learning about the problem.
She said: "On Tuesday we started off at Queen's Gardens where they run the soup kitchen.
"We spoke to the homeless people and spoke to the volunteers. We went and searched for shelters and at car parks and other places.
"We spoke to one guy who was really friendly and said he had school and qualifications but was homeless due to his mum kicking him out.
"Another guy was sofa-surfing and his friends got fed up and so got me kicked out onto the street and beaten up.
"We spoke to as many people as we could; it is all about building it up now."
Luckily for her, she planned to go to her mother's in Mitcham for a few days over Christmas.
She said: "At the moment I have not got a job and people are saying to me because I am homeless I cannot get a job.
"I am taking each day as it comes and seeing what the next challenge is going to be. It is a struggle every day, not knowing where you will be sleeping."
A Croydon Council spokesman said it was sorry Jessica was disappointed with the service she received from the council but families with children had to come first.
He said: "Like many local authorities, the council currently has a shortage of temporary accommodation and has to prioritise families with children and those who are deemed vulnerable.
"We assisted Ms Chipperfield by offering guidance on finding her own private-rented accommodation and gave her an advice pack which included information on housing benefit, landlords, deposit schemes and hostels."
Visit the-yhc.blogspot.co.uk for more information
Comments
by Chris_Wilcox
Wednesday, January 02 2013, 12:33AM
“People are unliking statements of fact about how people are harmed badly by others who are obsessed with image.
*shrugs* I rest my case.”
by Chris_Wilcox
Sunday, December 30 2012, 8:24PM
“@LaFantastica: Let's just say I'm the sanest one in my family. And I'm a Schizophrenic. I nearly died twice due to what they did.
The problem is to do with image and 'keeping up appearances'. But some people will take it to such an extreme level they may even kill to save face ( honour crime is a prime example here ). It's more common than people like to admit. And I'm confident the sheer levels or fear that lead people to do these extreme acts to 'save face' are actually deep running very serious Mental Health problems.
That's what this lass encountered I'm guessing. 'White honour', rather than Arab or Indian style honour stuff.
White honour for girls like this is about things like 'no grandchildren', 'what will the neighbours think?', 'our shame at bad genetics', and possibly religious extremism like what we're seeing over this Gay Marriage debate. Best to ask her what the specifics were though. I can just give you examples of what I have seen over the years. The Goth scene has always been gay friendly, and we're used to picking up those who have been **** on by society.
You'll find the community is full of people who aren't as 'fine and upstanding' as they claim to be. It's all about image.
You get it a lot in Mental Health circles. Like in days gone by people will still try to dump the ill on The State rather than actually helping. But there are no Asylums now so... Alan Turing's story is particularly bad, and shows just quite how evil people can be when someone is simply different.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Sunday, December 30 2012, 8:06PM
“Chris - I am so, so sorry. How could your family have been so cruel towards you? How on earth did you cope? And why did they not like your being male?”
by Chris_Wilcox
Sunday, December 30 2012, 3:34PM
“And just to show how serious this issue is:
http://tinyurl.com/ct834xg
Homeless people die, on average, 30 years younger than the average Joe.
And to knowingly and wilfully reduce someone's lifespan is, well, pretty dodgy...”
by Chris_Wilcox
Sunday, December 30 2012, 3:24PM
“@LaFantastica:
Because some people really are that prejudiced towards homosexuals. Even family will be turned on.
You also see this a lot in the more religious circles. If you are gay you get ZERO Christian charity in many places for example. It's just not very pretty. The dark side of our society basically.”
by Chris_Wilcox
Sunday, December 30 2012, 2:59PM
“Good work Jessica. This is an important issue.
Families are about love & teamwork. Not about dumping people when they are no longer convenient to you. My own family left me to die when I was badly injured as 'I was male, so had to do it myself. It would make a man of me.'. They even lied to the authorities to try and get me dumped on The State ( locked up ).
It made a cripple of me. I only needed counselling way back when ( I was a domestic violence & gang violence survivor ). Now I need DLA, walk with a cane, and can't hold down a normal job. Not pleasant eh?
Explain that to those injured soldiers coming home. No carer for you, you're male...
Sadly, like Jessica's story, this highlights how some parts of Croydon are still as sick and backwards and evil as ever. Why do you think this town has such a bad rep nationally? It's not just the concrete. Croydon is seen as a rundown backwater with big social problems ( including major substance abuse issues ). In my experience the people in question who are the bad-guys are image obsessed in a sort of 'what will the neighbours think?' kind of way. Really old school and nasty.
Until this is changed ( by the people and the authorities moving to shut down people like this ) you have no chance of turning this town around. Croydon has to be seen as safe for people to want to come here and bring their businesses here. If it's not safe, and is instead seen as a rough 'chav-town', they won't come. They'll go elsewhere.
And kids need support, or they'll turn to crime to survive.”
by LAFANTASTICA
Friday, December 28 2012, 3:13PM
“Poor girl. Why was her father's partner so nasty? Nothing wrong with being gay.”