Local authorities, housing providers and coronavirus support groups need essential furniture to help isolated people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Beds, chairs, and sofas are just a few of the items that people in isolation need, along with full furniture packages for the homeless, being housed at short notice. Patrick Flanagan received one of these packages after getting in touch with Herts Help:
“Karina and John, from Emmaus, were extremely helpful, I will be forever grateful. I was getting over a back operation and moved to a new place but came with nothing. I was put on to Emmaus by Clarion Housing and Herts Help. I couldn’t believe what Emmaus sorted out for me. I have some where to sit, I got a fridge and bits for the bedroom. I am very thankful for all the hard work during these tough times”
Despite losing nearly 70% of the our income overnight, as a result of our shops closing temporarily, Emmaus rallied together a team of our companions and staff. Furniture was sourced from our 5 charity shops and the deliveries started, offering hope, in the form of furniture. We even managed to source and deliver over 30 televisions to a Keystage Housing in Luton, keeping their formerly homeless tenants going through the lock down. We are also providing hundreds of toothbrushes to NHS staff and patients at Watford General Hospital.
Joanne Etty from Clarion Housing said, “A previously homeless person, who had been housed through Clarion, had no furniture apart from a bed and with their physical health issues, this was having a massive impact on their wellbeing and physical health. Emmaus provided the tenant with a sofa and in such a short time. We are now just trying to sort them out with some white goods to further support them. Thank you to Emmaus for all you have done”.
Karen Dragovic, Head of Housing said “Emmaus have provided help to the Housing Dept at St Albans City and District Council to assist vulnerable tenants moving on from temporary accommodation into permanent homes. The residents needed to be moved, without delay and Emmaus provided the essentials in the form of a furniture pack to allow them to set up home in their properties which would otherwise have been unfurnished. Emmaus reacted very quickly to the request from the Housing Dept for assistance and provided good quality used furniture at a fraction of the cost of new. They worked quickly alongside staff from the Housing Dept to deliver the furniture packages direct to the tenants’ homes whist ensuring that social distancing was observed at all times”.
Not only have our large green vans been delivering these emergency packs, but they have also been collecting and distributing donated food. Deliveries have gone to local food banks and animal shelters struggling to feed their animals during this crisis.
Emmaus’ house clearance service manager Andy was also drafted in to help local authorities complete emergency property clearances, readying them for people who were on the streets and needing emergency housing.
Karina Griffiths, Retail Manager for Emmaus commented, “The past few weeks have been quite challenging. The amount of people across our county that needed access to furniture, and literally overnight, was astounding, and just at the time our shops had to shut to adhere to government guidelines. So, we set up our community support scheme and the requests are still coming thick and fast.”
If you would like to help our Coronavirus Community Support Scheme we are asking for monetary donations as we are unable to accept furniture donations at this time.
Visit www.emmaus.org.uk/hertfordshire to make a donation.
You can make a difference at this most difficult of times.
Thank you.
You can make a difference at this most difficult of times.
Thank you.