Housing Justice News Release 30 March 2007
For immediate release

New survey shows number of soup runs is half previous claims
Volunteer researchers from London homelessness agencies have carried out a new survey of soup runs operating in central London. To find out the reality on the ground researchers visited all the known soup run locations over the course of a week to count the actual number of soup runs.

The findings of the researchers dispel the at times hysterical claims over the number of soups runs made by critics in central government, local authorities and some larger homelessness agencies.

In particular they refute the often quoted figure that there are over 60 soup runs operating in central London.

The survey identified a total of 32 different groups offering food and other services at five locations in central London (four in Westminster, one in Lambeth).

Of the 32 soup runs identified 19 operate once a week, four go out twice a week or more, and seven go out less frequently, typically once a month. In addition there are two groups who go out in the early mornings.

Researchers found that the day on which the most soup runs operated was Wednesday, with nine soup runs. On Saturdays only four runs ran in the whole central London area.

Volunteers from soup runs have joined together to form a Soup Run Forum. The Forum seeks to identify and promote good practice, improve coordination, and facilitate a more constructive dialogue with bodies critical of soup runs.

Soup Run Forum members acknowledge that some claims of over-provision have been valid but this survey counters the claim that there are soup runs “falling over each other” to feed homeless people. Researchers found that on some nights of the week at the most popular meeting point, between Westminster Cathedral and the House of Fraser just off Victoria Street, SW1, those who rely on the food provided by soup runs have a choice of up to three soup runs between 7.00 -11.00pm. Even here however there are evenings when only one soup run is in operation.

Alastair Murray of Housing Justice UNLEASH and Chair of the Soup Run Forum said “This survey refutes claims that there are over 60 soup runs. On some nights of the week there are as few as four groups across the whole of central London.”

He continued “Housing Justice would like to see recognition of the valuable outreach and befriending work that is done at no cost to the taxpayer by the groups involved in soup runs.”

“Local authorities and larger homelessness agencies are missing a trick in their opposition to soup runs. Many soup run volunteers have established a vital dialogue with people who are street homeless and who for whatever reason are not engaging with the help on offer from mainstream agencies. The agencies should recognise soup run volunteers as complementary to their services. Soup runs help to provide a more inclusive and comprehensive safety net for homeless and vulnerable people.”

Tim Nicholls of the Simon Community, a charity which carries out outreach work including soup runs in central London, commented “the Simon Community welcomes this piece of research from the Soup Run Forum, as it helps to dispel some of the myth peddlers and their criticism of a vital approach to outreach with London’s street homeless community.”

He continued “The Simon Community has long been concerned that the debate about the provision of soup runs to London’s rough sleepers has been a distraction from the real issues. There are still hundreds of people sleeping rough every night, and the support and provision to help them move away from homelessness and social exclusion is inadequate. What is required is a wide range of approaches to help tackle the loneliness and isolation experienced by homeless people, and soup runs are a vital tool for helping with this.”
Ends

Notes
Volunteer researchers from London homelessness agencies visited all the known meeting places - Lincolns Inn Fields, The Temple, Strand, Waterloo and Victoria - for soup runs in central London on every evening between Monday 26 February and Sunday 4 March and counted the number of soup runs they found. As well as counting the soup runs the researchers handed out details of the Soup Run Forum and encouraged soup run providers to join.

The full research and further comment is available from Alastair Murray at Housing Justice.

The Soup Run Forum meets quarterly and attempts to bring together all those who operate soup runs in central London to coordinate provision, promote good practice and to provide a media voice to counter the sometimes ill-informed and outdated criticisms levelled against their work.

About Housing Justice
Housing Justice is the national voice of Christian action to prevent homelessness and bad housing.

Housing Justice was formed in April 2003 by the merger of two long-standing housing charities, the Catholic Housing Aid Society (CHAS) and the Churches National Housing Coalition (CNHC). In January 2006 Housing Justice merged with UNLEASH (Church Action on Homelessness in London).

Housing Justice brings together more than 60 years experience of working for change in the field of housing.

Housing Justice provides frontline services to people in housing need and campaigns to improve housing policy.

In total Housing Justice is actively involved in more than 35 communities across England and Wales.

The Housing Justice CHAS network of 12 housing advice centres –in Bradford, Bristol, Croydon, Dewsbury, Halifax, Huddersfield, Kingston upon Thames, Leeds, Central London, Middlesbrough, Oswestry and York- provide practical support to people with housing and related problems.

Housing Justice UNLEASH works to support church-based housing and homelessness projects in London. It is responsible for coordinating the Soup Run Forum.

Housing Justice Regenerate, funded by the government's Civil Renewal Unit, supports resident-led regeneration in 15 guide neighbourhoods across the UK. Regenerate brings together residents who have transformed their estates with those who want to embark on the regeneration process to share learning and offer support.
Housing Justice works with, and for, homeless and badly housed people of all denominations, and with those who have no religious beliefs. All our services are offered to the whole community and, wherever possible, we work in partnership with others who share our values, regardless of religious beliefs.

Further information on Housing Justice and Homelessness Sunday is available at www.housingjustice.org.uk

Contact
Luke Evans 020 7723 7273/ 07973 786015
Alastair Murray 078 7581 0216
Email media@housingjustice.org.uk