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The Kings Cross Homelessness
Project - August 2002
Ken Macdonald speaks to Sharon Erdman,
director of the The Kings Cross Homelessness Project
Sharon Erdman has been the director of The Kings Cross Homelessness
Project (KCHP) for two years. Based in Camden's Mecklenburgh
Square, the Project works to improve the living conditions
of homeless families and their children living in temporary
accommodation.
The Project was founded by a group of local
activists in 1988 in response to the growing numbers of families
placed in bed and breakfast hotels with little or no support,
advice or access to services. And with nearly 50,000 households
in temporary accommodation in London and over 7,000 in bed
and breakfast hotels, often in very poor living conditions,
there's no doubt how essential the services of KCHP are.
Previously, She worked for Westminster Council
in housing management then ran the Citizen's Advice Bureau
in Lambeth. "I went to work for Westminster after university,"
Sharon says, "but it was too bureaucratic and it wasn't for
me. I decided I would be much happier in a smaller organisation
where the focus was helping people to get the services and
help they really need. So you could say that working at KCHP
is my ideal job.
"As director, the main stress of the job,
and sometimes the most satisfying aspect of it, is fundraising.
When I successfully raise funds that means we have cash to
spend on services that will directly benefit homeless people.
When funders turn us down or pull out that can have a dramatic
effect on what we can do for homeless people.
"I get great satisfaction when we as an organisation
are able to offer families a good quality of service that
can really make a difference to their lives. The project provides
three main services. The Homeless Children's project offers
a mobile outreach service to homeless children living in B&B.;
This part of the project gives children play opportunities
and school holiday outings and advice and support to parents.
"The Advice Centre based at Mecklenburgh Square
offers advice and advocacy to homeless families on housing,
welfare rights, health, access to education and other services.
This aims to help families to make the best out of what can
be a very difficult situation.
"The Homeless Families Outreach Project has
a member of staff who visits families in the Kings Cross area
in B&B; and focuses on supporting those who are most at risk
of exclusion and isolation.
"One of the disappointing things about this
job is that homelessness has been extremely bad in London
for such a long time. I found some ten-year-old files at the
back of a drawer the other day and I'm sorry to say that homelessness
then was as bad as it is now.
"But the government is now turning its attention
to homeless families in B&B; after having spent the last few
years concentrating on rough sleepers. I hope that means we'll
see a truly significant reduction in the number of people
in temporary accommodation and B&B; in the reasonably near
future."
When she's not working, Sharon likes to relax
by gardening or decorating her home. "I'm doing a City & Guilds
in gardening," Sharon says, "and I'm dreaming that one day
I'll move out of the city and become a gardener." But spare
time is at a premium for Sharon since, on top of her very
demanding job, she's also a Lambeth Labour Councillor for
the Coldharbour Ward in Brixton.
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Camden
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