The Homeless Taskforce, co-ordinated by the Museum of Homelessness, was active in nine London boroughs over the winter.
In December 2020 QSA provided a £10k grant to the Covid-19 Homeless Taskforce - a group of small, independent, community organisations and charities - who worked alongside people experiencing homelessness during the challenging winter of 2020-21.
Between 21 December 2020 and 5 April 2021 (Easter Monday), the Taskforce provided direct support to people affected by homelessness during this challenging winter, as well as creating a vaccination pilot project.
Direct support
The grant contributed towards:
- Accommodation at the YHA for 16 LGBTIQ+ guests of the Outside Project
- 4,411 early morning breakfasts on the street in Camden
- 7,545 evening meals/interactions across nine boroughs
- 4,774 bedtime check-ins and hot drinks/snacks in Westminster
As well as accommodation for The Outside Project's guests, the taskforce was able to supply tents, sleeping bags, pods, emergency bivouacs, shoes, clothes, food and drink.
Vaccinations
In March 2021, taskforce partners and other organisations and groups teamed up to pilot a grassroots vaccination programme in Camden for people affected by homelessness and not linked into mainstream services. Over 30 people were vaccinated, and the grant from QSA supported the provision of after-care accommodation so that people who received the vaccine did not have to spend a night on the streets dealing with side effects.
Although the taskforce's winter lockdown emergency operation is now finished, the taskforce partners continue their ongoing practical work and campaigning activity.