Campaign to raise awareness of homelessness (From Watford Observer)

Watford New Hope Trust raise awareness of national Poverty and Homelessness Action Week

10:00am Friday 25th January 2013 in News By Rebecca Perring, Reporter

Watford New Hope Trust aims to raise awareness of homelessness in an action week this month.

Watford New Hope Trust (WNHT) will be spending the week raising awareness about homelessness to mark the national Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which will take place between January 26 and February 3.

Volunteers will be delivering leaflets to 3,500 homes in Cassiobury, Croxley Green and Chorleywood to promote the trust's 24/7 emergency advice line, which was set up last year to prevent first time homeless people from spending a night on the streets.

They have also created a video entitled Homelessness. It’s not always who you think, which aims to challenge common perceptions of homelessness and remind the viewer that anyone can become homeless.

WNHT also hopes to open a new shop in Croxley Green and launch a new scheme to help people return to work after a period of homelessness.

Next month, the trust is holding a sponsored sleepout alongside YMCA Watford, and residents are invited to spend a night under the stars to get an idea of what it is like to sleep rough.

The sleepout will take place in Watford Charter Place on Friday, February 1.

For more information visit http://watfordsleepout.wnht.org/Watford_Sleepout_2013/Home.html