by Sarah Cowley
For many of us, the thought of ever becoming homeless is something that seems near impossible. We think that homelessness is the direct result of drug/alcohol addictions and that is simply all there is to it. More of us may not realise that a large number of homeless people do not even live on the streets, but instead within various different hostels. The word ‘hostel’ certainly doesn’t bring forward the picture of a pleasant place to live in Bedford, especially if the film ‘Hostel’ is anything to go on. Hostels are dangerous and they’re full of drug dealers, addicts and criminals, right? In fact, the opposite couldn’t be more true.
You may be surprised to hear that there are over 11 different hostels currently running across Bedford alone, each one catering to the needs of specific groups. For example, while the Bedford Foyer provides housing for young people aged 16-25, the Life Hostel and Charis Hostel house mothers with babies. Surprisingly the most common circumstance among people entering hostels is “breakdowns of relationships with family,” says Dele Johnson of the Bedfordshire YMCA. What most people don’t realise is how easy it can be to become homeless. If you lost your job, split with your partner, fought with your family… where would you be living? “If you are sleeping on somebody else’s sofa- that’s homelessness!’ says Dele. ‘People see homelessness as a separate issue. It can happen to anyone’.
As frightening as this may be to hear, becoming homeless does not mean that your life has failed. Most people only stay in a hostel for between six months to two years after which point the hostel will support a person in finding housing. During the stay, in most hostels, a person will be assigned a key worker who will provide one-to-one support in everything from help with budgeting, relationship advice, education and careers advice and life skills. The hostel itself is not a terrible and frightening place to live, as all hostels provide 24/7 CCTV and security staff. On top of this nearly all hostels will provide fully furnished rooms along with a basic care package including things such as bedding, a towel and cutlery.
Laura who recently moved out of a hostel says that the experience wasn’t entirely positive: “Financially it was a struggle, I hated sharing facilities with other people and I felt peer pressured to go down the wrong pathway by other people.” However she firmly believes that living in a hostel has had a positive impact on her life: “It taught me to be independent, it gave me a roof over my head, I got 24 hour support, and the help I desperately needed with my mental health issues.” Since leaving the hostel, Laura has begun a college course, found a job, found a flat and has started to plan a positive future.
“Awareness is the biggest thing,” says Dele. “Homelessness affects everyone. People think that all homeless people are lazy, they’re not intelligent, that they won’t become anything. This is simply not the case.”
I have personally struggled with homelessness, having to leave home a few months ago aged just 17. Whilst living in a hostel is never easy, I was surprised by how welcoming the staff and people living with me were. We have movie nights, gossip with staff, have rules and chores and in many respects it is very much like living at home. Homelessness is such a broad issue, affecting so many people and it certainly deserves more attention than it currently gets.
Sarah Cowley has joined The Bedford Clanger as part of the YMCA’s work experience programme.
citizenbedford 