About the Simon Community
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Introduction
The Simon Community's roots, philosophy and how we work.
Background
A look at some of the issues around homelessness, including frequently asked questions.
People
Meet the people behind The Simon Community
Download a copy
of our full audited accounts 2004-05
Download a copy of our latest Annual
Report & Summary Accounts 2003-04
Download a copy of our full Audited
Accounts 2003-04
Introduction
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The Simon Community was founded by Anton Wallich-Clifford in
1963 and is a registered charity (no. 283938). Anton's vision for Simon was to
reach out to the homeless and rootless, to be a movement of concern and, by working
as a community, to offer a radical alternative to institutional care.
We still follow that philosophy today, offering a variety of
services for rough sleepers and other homeless
people.
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We organise trips out of London
for people living on the streets |
Simon's aim has always been to provide help for people who
are not provided for by other services. While provision for people sleeping rough
in London has certainly increased in recent years, it is generally acknowledged
that services are still failing to reach all those who need help and that it is
often the most vulnerable who are not being reached. In some respects this is
a question of trust and confidence; people who find themselves living on the street
are often distrustful and understandably wary about who they are willing to accept
help from. Simon has a special role to play in this. We enjoy a high reputation
among many of London's street homeless and are well known and trusted. This trust
places a great responsibility on us, both to provide what help we can and to do
it with care and respect for those we are here to serve.
Living and working together
We aim to break down the barriers between helping and being
helped - our houses are homes, not hostels. Simon's
residents and volunteers live and work together as a community and share in the
decision making and running of all our projects.
The Community works through a variety of meetings so that everyone
can be involved in deciding how our services operate. It is slow and can be inconclusive,
but it works. Our residents are expected to contribute to the overall running
as much as they can and this means in practice that current and ex-residents take
responsibility for many of the day-to-day tasks.
Campaigning
Simon also has a long history of being a campaigning body
and we aim to draw the attention of the government and the public to issues concerning
homeless people everywhere.
In particular, Simon uses its independence to speak out publicly
on issues affecting homeless and rootless people, when other service providers
might feel constrained by their funding relationships.
Independence
Simon has worked hard to maintain its status as an independent
organisation and will not enter into any financial or contractual arrangements
that might unduly limit or inhibit its ability to campaign on behalf of those
we seek to support and assist.
Independence does not, however, mean isolation and Simon consults
with other service providers and with local and central government agencies wherever
this is of benefit to people who are homeless and rootless.
Background
The homelessness of many people on the street is not
merely a lack of housing. Society puts many demands on people, often excluding
and refusing to accept those who do not conform to the rigid standards deemed
as normal.
The Simon Community accepts people for who they are, rather
than trying to tell people who they should be. When we make contact with homeless
people we do so on their own terms and aim to live with them in a philosophy of
tolerance, acceptance and self-help. For this reason we do not seek to rehabilitate
people, but to give them the opportunity to think about their lives, what they
want and provide them with some choices.
Why do people become homeless?
The theory underlying our work is that many people end up
on the streets as a result of damaging life experiences and have difficulty making
relationships work. They often have unrealistic expectations of themselves, other
people and social structures. We therefore believe that helping people move forward
from homelessness and the social exclusion that accompanies it is not just about
providing accommodation. It must include helping people build stable relationships
and achieve a sense of belonging. Hence the importance of working as a community.
Why do some people choose to sleep rough when there are
hostels?
Surviving life as a homeless person on the streets of London leaves little time
for thinking of a way out. Finding food and shelter, avoiding violence, coping
with ill health and loneliness can take all of a person's energies. A bed in a
traditional hostel will provide temporary comfort, but it alone is not the answer.
For some, hostel rules and regulations can contribute to their sense of powerlessness.
For others, bad experiences of hostel life have led them to prefer to take their
own chances on the street.
Should I give to beggars?
Whether or not you give to beggars is an entirely personal
choice. What may be more important is to consider that many homeless people have
not had any positive human contact for some time and they are likely to be feeling
vulnerable, isolated and ignored. Remember that they are people just like you
and at least take the time to acknowledge their presence.
The Simon Community currently employs five paid staff.
All our outreach work is done
by full-time, live-in volunteers and by co-workers, who are part-time volunteers.
Together they provide dedicated support 365 days a year to London's street homeless.
Simon maintains a commitment to working with volunteers wherever
possible. We believe the commitment, energy, patience and courage they bring is
an essential part of the success of our work with some of the most damaged and
vulnerable people in our society.
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