Are you homeless or at risk of homelessness in Southend? Chat to us now, get help online or call 01702 615000
Christmas appeal 2018
Text XMAS09 £10 to 70070 to donate £10
which could help to pay for a Christmas meal in a warm environment with our friendly team.
Christmas is a special time for everyone and it’s particularly important to us at HARP. Whilst most of us are enjoying time with our families and a much needed break, for those living on the streets it can be a very lonely and stressful time of year. Many homeless people tell us they feel isolated and at risk, at what should be a safe and happy time of year.
Your donation could help us to reach out to someone like Lucy* - someone who is at rock bottom, in the depths of despair - to give them the support they need to start their lives again. It could be the spark of hope that makes them feel their life is worth living.
Lucy had it all – a good job, a lovely home and a man she was madly in love with, but her world came tumbling down when he cheated on her. Like many other young people her age, she started to go out a lot, drinking, but it was never a problem. She then met who she thought was the man of her dreams – he was charming and considerate. He had a checkered past but love is blind.
“I really fell for this guy, he was wonderful for the first few months but then he became very controlling – I’d be walking on eggshells, never knowing when he would turn on me”.
Support someone like Lucy this Christmas by making a donation today.
Text XMAS09 £10 to 70070 to donate £10
Give a regular gift to support local homeless people this Christmas and beyond
Support a homeless person this Christmas with a one-off gift
Slowly he became more manipulative and controlling, and he introduced Lucy to drugs. Before she knew it, she was hooked.
“One night, he got really mad at me and he called me a lot of names, and then pushed me against the wall. I got really scared but he said he was sorry and he’d never do it again – but it only became more frequent”.
Imagine being told every day that you’re worthless. Lucy was stuck in a cycle of addiction. She went into rehabilitation centres to try and beat her addiction but was unsuccessful.
“I was an educated woman, with a job and a secure future. I never thought I would end up in an abusive relationship. I managed to escape but ended up living on the streets for over a year – because of the relationship my world was no longer filled with family and friends. I had no one!”
Thankfully, she found HARP. When Andrew, Lucy’s support worker, first met Lucy, her self-esteem was low. She felt worthless due to years of physical and emotional abuse. Now, thanks to the support she has received, which is only possible because of donations from people like you, Lucy has turned her life around. After being free from drugs for over a year, Lucy started volunteering for HARP in our day centre and is now working for HARP supporting people to overcome their issues, just like she was supported by Andrew.
“I feel I owe them my life, I would not be where I am today if it hadn’t been for HARP”.
Show your support to more people like Lucy this Christmas by donating to our Christmas Appeal.
By clicking below to donate, you will help to provide so much more than a Christmas meal; you will give local homeless people compassion, safety and a friendly smiling face throughout the festive period and beyond…
Text XMAS09 £10 to 70070 to donate £10
Give a regular gift to support local homeless people this Christmas and beyond
Support a homeless person this Christmas with a one-off gift
*In order to protect the privacy of the people we help, names have been changed and models have been used.
Donations to our Christmas appeal will help us to provide meals, entertainment, activities and much needed care and support to local homeless people over the Christmas period and beyond. All donations will be spent where we feel the need is greatest. Many people like to support HARP with non-monetary gifts at Christmas time. Click here to find out more about the items we need to provide presents for local homeless people, and to support our efforts over the festive period.