Chapter 10

Robert:

Leaving Callie was a shock to my system! There was a sense of unreality as I headed home alone, back to my ‘old’ life. But she was going to marry me. Not until after her exams, even though that would be a month after her birthday, but she was going to marry me. We hadn’t settled where we’d live, but the city seemed likely, rather than Maldon. I was taking advice from Rebecca, Dulcie and Eileen Meadows among others. I would speak to Callie often, of course, but not visit until the exams were over and done. That meant not seeing her in person until the end of May, with the wedding in June.

That didn’t mean I was bored. Far from it. Quite apart from work, there was HIG. HIG being the interim title – Homelessness Intervention Group – for the committee assembled to consider an orderly and effective approach to the issue of homelessness in the area. The church had professionals, psychiatric, social, medical professionals to throw at the problem, but we’d also co-opted representatives from several outside groups. Shelter, of course, Crisis, Street Angels, all of whom had practical experience and interest in the issue of street people.

“You’ve got to realise,” one said, “that some street people choose that life. Makes no sense to me, but they have a right to choose. All we can do is offer sleeping bags or blankets, food, medical and dental treatment and let them get on with it.”

“And,” another inserted, “there’s this issue of drug and alcohol abuse.”

Suzannah, a church member and psychiatric nurse, raised a hand. “I think a Therapeutic Community approach will be necessary, at least if the aim is rehabilitation. Oh, another thing, since it’s a church initiative, we need to be careful that the religion thing doesn’t put people off. I know it’s important, but they do not need to be preached at.”

David, local GP, added, “I know what you’re talking about, Su, but perhaps some of us need an explanation of Therapeutic Community?”

Su looked round at the assembled group and saw smiles and nods. “A therapeutic community is essentially self-governing, with professionals to guide rather than prescribe. An occasional lapse of behaviour needs to be tolerated up to a point because the sort of issues we’ll be dealing with don’t disappear overnight. I have some explanatory articles on the subject which give examples of how problems might be handled, but the important point is that each resident is a full member of the group, and subject to peer pressure.”

“Perhaps, Su,” I offered, “it would be good if we could all have copies of your articles? And maybe suggestions for further study? If I’m going to be in the position of having some responsibility I ought to know more about the options.” I intended to send copies to Callie, too, even though she’d probably not have time to read and digest them.

Another matter was looking at facilities the Diocese was offering us to use, all of which needed to be visited and evaluated. Time. “Ask me for anything except time.” Not that I didn’t have time to spare, just that I was pushing hard and so were my companions.

We did settle on two places. One, which had been offices, near the centre of the city. It would need some modifications, though it did have toilet facilities. On three floors, with a variety of room sizes, the ground floor had a reception area and a canteen as well as a space which would make a common-room or lounge.

A second property just outside the inner ring-road, was a large house – ten bedrooms. The once large garden had been cut in half and a second house erected behind the large one. The driveway to both was paved with stone setts; a nice bit of remnant history, but subject, I was certain, to the formation of slippery green algae in wet weather. But the house was almost perfect for our purposes. It was going to be our second-stage house for people who’d demonstrated a desire and, more importantly, the motivation, to find a way off the streets. In some cases, to defeat addiction or other mental issues.

None of this would have been possible without money. Money which wasn’t going to come from Council or Central Government. I was amazed at the way churches, not just Anglican ones, had got behind the project with money and volunteer manpower. Modifications to the two properties were forging ahead. Suzannah’s contacts in the Health Services had also produced volunteers from among nurses and occupational therapists. A local GP surgery had signed up, too. Inevitably, I had been drawn in further and often found myself shaking my head at the changes in my life. Actually dealing with people! Not just sorting out IT problems for customers, but having real conversations. Learning about religion. Learning about health – physical, emotional and psychological.