I am ‘working from home’ today – writing this message to you from a warm, safe place full of love.
More than half of the women we support here at MASH can’t say the same. They are experiencing some form of homelessness. Whether it’s rough sleeping, living in temporary B&Bs or sleeping over on a sofa – perhaps with someone who they can’t trust.
This World Homeless Day, I’m thinking about the impact not having a safe home has on the lives of the women we support, and about my colleagues and all the work they do to support women to get closer to having their own front door and a safe place to call home.
Without this, everything else in our lives – our health, our work situation, our wellbeing – is all affected.
Last year, MASH supported 80 women to find and settle into a home. This is everything from accompanying women to appointments and supporting them to navigate housing services to offering daily emotional support, and practical things like understanding budgeting and applying for grants for curtains and furnishings.
Heartbreakingly, the need is growing. But, thankfully due to support from people like you and our amazing funders, MASH is growing in response, too.
Funding from Nationwide’s community grants programme means we’ve now got a Tenancy Support Officer on our team and we are delighted to be welcoming another new colleague who will be based in one of Manchester’s only temporary accommodation services for women – offering MASH’s expert holistic wrap around support.
Homelessness takes many forms and there is no magic wand solution. However, gender and trauma-informed support like we’re able to offer from MASH really does change and even save lives.
Annie Emery, MASH CEO
“I’ve just cleaned the whole place, I never thought I’d be so happy about doing cleaning.”
Samantha
MASH Service User
