Isolation packs ease the stresses of homelessness

Residents at the charity’s temporary accommodation have been provided with isolation and resilience packs.

The packs have been made possible thanks to emergency COVID funding and include items such as TVs, computer games, tablets, arts and craft supplies and phone top up

cards.

They encourage individuals experiencing homelessness to remain onsite and socially distant by providing alternative ways for residents to keep in touch with family, as well as combat their boredom.

Jim Dennison, Chief Executive at Simon Community, said: “For someone experiencing homelessness, existing feelings of anxiety and worry can be heightened during

a time when they are being asked to further isolate from society.

“Thankfully, during such an unsettling time, Simon Community staff members with a TV that my be included in isolation and resilience packs. Community services and

frontline workers are present to provide support, advice and a friendly face to those who need it most. These isolation packs are a further tool to help ease the stresses and pressures associated with homelessness.”

One client at the charity’s temporary accommodation service in Derry, who has been unable to visit her children, explained how important the packs have been to her. “I struggle with not being able to have face to face contact with my children. It is lonely but I have been using the arts and craft supplies to create cards for my kids to send in the post each week. They are my way of letting them know that I miss them.”