Sometimes you know things to be true in your head. But it’s different when you experience it. Even just a tiny taste of it.
I participated in a fundraising event last night. A group of us slept out in a park next to a shelter for people experiencing homelessness to raise funds and awareness for that project.
Participants arrived at 7:30pm. We were served dinner at 8pm by a chef who volunteered his time to cook for us. Then there was a time of prayer and worship. People who were also being supported by that project shared their experience of living on the streets and how they came to the shelter and it’s associated projects.
I talked to a man who moved to the UK when he was ten. He was in his sixties now and worked in banking since he was 17 years old. He didn’t go into the details of how he came to be living at a shelter, but he did say one thing led to another and he was sleeping rough near Victoria station for three weeks before he found this place.
Another young man was a professional athlete who broke his leg. He was just starting out and didn’t have a lot of savings. When that ran out while he was recovering, he ended up on the streets. It was only by word of mouth that he found his way to this day centre.
After a time of sharing, we collected our cardboard mattress – packing boxes that were cut open – and headed to the park next door.
At 12am it started to drizzle. Softly. As it often does in London.
At 4am the tarp that was over us ripped and fell down. Most of us were sleeping intermittently anyway. It wasn’t a huge interruption.
But it was a long time to 6:30am when the centre reopened to feed us breakfast and to send us back on our way home.
The following is what I learned from the winter sleep out.
- Homelessness is NOT a lifestyle choice. I heard that 15% of rough sleepers end their own lives. That life expectancy for the people experiencing homelessness is only 47 years old.
- Sleeping rough is scary and uncomfortable. I cannot imagine doing this long term.
- Every person sleeping rough has a story to tell. They are human. Made in the image of God. And I’m too quick to make assumptions.
- The love of Jesus does make a difference. It can bring hope and can change people. I heard that from former rough sleepers last night.
Nomad Online 
9 responses to “Lessons from a winter sleep out”
A wonderful Christian path you try to follow, Aggie. It’s called ‘making a difference’ and I really applaud you for that.
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Aww. Thank you Jo. I’m not sure about that. There are so many times when I fail to walk the talk. But we can all do something where we can!!
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Brave woman. Looked cold. Thanks for highlighting the experience of sleeping rough and raising awareness.
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Thanks Rebecca. It was cold but worthwhile.
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Thank you for sharing your experience, it is eye opening. I know this world exists of course, but you have given me a deeper insight
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Thank you for reading 🙏
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My pleasure!
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This is such an inspiring and eye-opening post! Thank you for sharing your experience and the stories of those you met. I completely agree that we are often too quick to make assumptions about people experiencing homelessness without really understanding their stories. My question is, what are some practical ways that we can support and show love to these individuals beyond participating in events like the one you described?
primary tinting
https://blog.primarytinting.net
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That is such a great question. I work for a Christian missionary organisation who work with people who are sleeping rough in London. They would suggest looking them in the eye when they ask you for change. Treating them as a person. Asking them if they wanted anything to eat. Spending the time to know their name and hear their story. Also knowing what shelters are nearby so you can share that information with them. But treating them as people would be a good first step.
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