The amount of need that we experience at the Oasis Centre is astounding, and our crisis support team do an unbelievable job. Here is a 4-hour snapshot of their work.
We recently spoke to Dushy, who heads up our RE-BUILD crisis support program. She gave us a snapshot of the work that she does by sharing about the circumstances that the her team had been involved with over the course of just four hours in the centre. During this time she saw twenty-three clients, with the circumstances described below. All of these are very typical of the clients that we work with at the Oasis Centre, and any details that would make an individual identifiable have been removed.
An older couple who came to the UK from overseas on a family reunion programme to join their daughter. Because of a domestic situation they had had to leave their home and have been on the streets for three weeks and were in need of food.
A lady with a history of mental health issues and two children with serious disabilities. She has stopped engaging with social services and her benefits have been cut off. She has no money to feed her children.
A man with mental health issues who has been disowned by his family due to chronic substance abuse. He has financial issues because his benefits are regularly stolen by a gang and he has no money.
A lady with financial difficulties who is struggling to manage her household affairs. She has financial difficulties, feels overwhelmed by life, and lacks the confidence she needs to make the phonecalls she needs to sort things out.
A lady in need of a food pack who came in to the Centre with lots of bills and a court summons.
A younger man who had been referred by a housing association for a food pack. A brief conversation revealed that the need for food was caused by large debt issues.
A retired man who was referred for a food pack because all of his money is going on the Bedroom Tax.
A man who has been unfairly sanctioned for six weeks. He doesn't understand the system and feels overwhelmed.
A man out of work due to an injury that he sustained. He has no food, his benefits have been stopped and he is depressed.
A lady who came in for a food pack because her benefits are taken by a gang. She has other mental health and abuse issues going on and her children are being dealt with by social services for neglect.
A lady who came in for a food pack who looks after her own children plus her siblings. She is overwhelmed with her housing situation. Nothing works, her landlord won't communicate and her children are getting ill from the damp. She spends all her money heating the house.
A lady who is struggling with alcohol addiction and is in the process of being evicted from her home. She recently lost her partner to alcohol addiction.
A young homeless lady, with a history of abuse and prostitution and severe mental health issues. Recently out of prison and living with different men to have a roof over her head. Reported a violent crime to us.
A man who is struggling with alcohol addiction, debt, and epilepsy that is brought on by his alcoholism.
Another young homeless lady who wanted a food pack. She has severe mental health issues and is self-harming.
A couple in their late teens who have been evicted from their home. The lady is pregnant and they are struggling to find accommodation as a couple.
A teenage asylum seeker from Syria who had been in the UK for two weeks. He was isolated and unable to speak English and struggling to cope as his benefits were not being given on time.
An older lady who is involved in prostitution and has ongoing abuse issues. She needed a food pack and is currently not engaging with her social worker because of anxiety and health difficulties.
A lady with two children who disclosed that she is a victim of domestic abuse.
A lady who came into the centre crying, with bruises and footprint marks on her body. She was drunk.
A man who came in for a food pack, who is depressed and struggling with addiction and is being evicted from his home for anti-social behaviour.
These are the clients that were helped by the Oasis Centre's crisis support team in just one four hour shift. Imagine how much we are able to do over the course of a week. And imagine how much more we will be able to do when we get our new centre and can expand our opening hours and our level of provision.
To join us on this exciting journey ahead, why not join the Oasis Community?