Getting to grips with helping the homeless
BRAINTREE AND WITHAM TIMES - 19TH MARCH 2002
A new scheme has been launched to get homeless people working – by handing out information on unemployment insurance for homeowners.
And the idea, hatched by a Braintree based insurance company, has received the backing of the Salvation Army.
Under the initiative, insurance company Burgesses will pay homeless people £25 a day and 10 per cent of all premiums in cash when each monthly premium is received.
Registered homeless charities will also receive 10 per cent of all commissions retained by Burgesses.
Around 25 homeless people have so far been recruited by the company after Burgesses managing partner Simon Burgess visited drop-in centres.
Mr Burgess, who lives in Finchingfield, said homeless people would start distributing leaflets at Witham, Chelmsford and Colchester railway stations this week.
Mr Burgess added: “By decent income to homeless people this will help to restore a sense of self-worth and provide sufficient funds for proper accommodation.
“I know there might be some criticism from charity groups saying that homeless people are more likely to spend the money on drink and drugs if given cash.
“But this is not our intention. We are simply giving homeless people sufficient funds and are not taking a moral view.”
The Salvation Army – which runs a series of projects for the homeless – welcomed the project.
A spokesman said: “Every year people find themselves homeless as a result of repossession or failure to keep up mortgage repayments.
“The Salvation Army, along with other organisations recognises the importance of preventing homelessness in the first instance, so any scheme with this objective has an important task.”
