(This marks the first in a series of 10 Vincentian family projects that will be described by Fr. Robert Maloney, Chair of the Systemic Change initiative in the Vincentian Family.)
Near Buckingham Palace, around the corner from the seat of the British government there waits a welcoming face, a listening ear, a hot bed, and a warm meal for the poor and neglected persons who seek it. This is The Passage, located near Victoria Station in Carlisle Place.
Meeting the holistic needs of the poor, the Passage strives to achieve systemic change through touching and changing lives, through rehabilitating people living on the streets, and through raising governmental awareness of the causes of homelessness.
Erected in a time when poverty was essentially criminalized, the Passage brings to the poor on the streets of London the services of the Daughters of Charity and of many lay men and women who share in the Vincentian charism. There, the victims of all kinds of human misery find welcome and respect.
The Passage provides numerous services to help the most abandoned. Working together with Westminster City Council and other volunteer organizations, it aims to reduce the number of people sleeping on the street. At its Day Center, the Passage offers a wide variety of programs. The needy can come here to acquire clothes, to shower, and to eat. For those suffering from substance abuse a medical team is available, as well as a mental health team, nurse practitioners and GPs. The Day Center also offers Housing and Advice Services and practical help for the undocumented. After meeting immediate needs, the Passage also offers routes into employment, by helping with CVs, offering a basic literacy program and assisting with job searches.
Collaborative programs and partnerships with NGOs help the Passage address the root of homelessness. The Daughters of Charity and the lay administrators and staff use their experience, and the hard evidence gathered from it, to bridge the gap between grant makers, donors and practitioners. Through lobbying, the Passage has assisted in preventing legislation which would have criminalized the homeless.http://www.passage.org.uk/
Tags: Advocacy, Featured, Health, Homelessness
