• Disrupting Power Since 2015
  • Donate
  • Login
Thursday, May 15, 2025
  • Login
  • Register
Canary
MEDIA THAT DISRUPTS
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION
SUPPORT
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
Canary
No Result
View All Result

Corbyn’s constituency has a groundbreaking approach to coronavirus

Steve Topple by Steve Topple
14 March 2020
in Trending, UK
Reading Time: 3 mins read
170 2
A A
1
Home Trending
320
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Islington Borough Council has possibly done a UK-first in dealing with COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus. Because Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency has set up a task force to support homeless people and rough sleepers during the pandemic.

Coronavirus: supporting homeless people

As Lucas Cumiskey reported for the Islington Gazette, on Friday 13 March the council held an emergency meeting. It involved homeless charities, campaign groups, and the council itself. The task force will be “dedicated” to helping homeless people with COVID-19. As Cumiskey wrote:

Representatives from Islington Council, Streets Kitchen, Shelter from the Storm, Museum of Homelessness, The Outside Project and The Margins Project will all attend the summit at the Union Chapel in Compton Terrace.

As the CEO of Union Chapel tweeted, Islington Council’s response is “more than we’ve heard or seen from the” government:

I was very pleased @UnionChapelUK @marginsproj could host today’s #HomelessTaskForce on #COVID_19, an important meeting w/real outcomes & next steps for all.

More than we’ve heard or seen from the govn.

Bravo & power to @streetskitchen @our_MoH @LGBTIQoutside as always. ✊♥️ https://t.co/o1S1ZUc1mQ

— Michael Chandler (@mlchandler01) March 13, 2020

The councillor in charge of housing in Islington praised the quick response to the meeting request:

Very proud of all the brilliant orgs in our borough.
At 24 hours notice this pm @our_MoH @streetskitchen @StMungos @SHPcharity @marginsproj @pilion @LGBTIQoutside @SFTSLondon @IslingtonBC & others all came together to discuss how we can help the homeless at this difficult time.

— Diarmaid Ward (@diarmaid_w) March 13, 2020

So far, the council has not said what the task force will do.

The Islington Gazette has also been supporting the initiative:

URGENT: Who has hand sanitiser and soap they can donate to Islington’s fantastic homeless outreach groups to stop #Coronavirus spreading?@streetskitchen @our_MoH@SFTSLondon
@Singlehomeless @SHPcharity@marginsproj

— Islington Gazette (@islingtongztte) March 13, 2020

Meanwhile, grassroots group Streets Kitchen has already been taking steps to support homeless people and rough sleepers. It’s also been actively advising the public on how they can help:

Please consider sharing tobacco with those on the streets..
A lot of our friend's main source of a smoke is from discarded dog ends which could easily transmit #Covid_19 #GiveAShift

— Streets Kitchen (@streetskitchen) March 13, 2020

Going further

But the council and homelessness groups have gone further. They’ve written to the government asking for urgent funding for a hospital:

TODAY we @streetskitchen & @IslingtonBC wrote to @RobertJenrick to request urgent funding for @MildmayUK who stand ready to admit patients experiencing homelessness in London affected by #COVID19
Swift & decisive action is needed.
Full letter here https://t.co/XFq0EyIdjh https://t.co/i41c59d012

— Museum of Homelessness (@our_MoH) March 11, 2020

The Mildmay is a specialist hospital for people living with HIV and AIDS. But as the group the Museum of Homelessness wrote, the hospital:

stands ready to admit patients experiencing homelessness for specialist care. We are aware that the Chancellor today pledged ‘whatever extra resources our NHS needs to cope with COVID 19. We strongly believe that this should extend to the Mildmay in London, specifically for the street homeless population. Mildmay is able to deliver highly focused, specialist care and this would relieve pressure on the larger NHS hospitals across the capital as the pandemic inevitably deepens.

The government response?

All this stands in stark contrast to what is happening across the rest of the UK. As the Guardian reported:

More than a quarter of a million vulnerable people including rough sleepers and drug users are missing out on vital advice on how to handle the coronavirus threat…

Charities said people living in unregulated supported housing, homeless hostels and temporary accommodation were not receiving key information from public health authorities.

The report noted how one night shelter turned away a rough sleeper because it thought he may have COVID-19. But so far, the government has only said that:

We’ve announced a £500m hardship fund so local authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households and we will publish further guidance for hostels and day centres shortly.

“They don’t care”

As Streets Kitchen’s Jon Glackin told the Islington Gazette:

I don’t think those in poverty are a priority to this government. Homelessness is still increasing, food bank use is exploding – I really think they don’t care…

The positive is all these local groups are going to meet to get a task force up and running, and the grassroots groups are doing this. We are getting no official guidance, no assistance whatsoever.

So it appears that it’s down to grassroots action to protect and support homeless people and rough sleepers. And with the Tories’ strategy of allowing the most vulnerable in society to take the deadly effects of COVID-19 “on the chin”, Islington’s example of direct intervention is needed more than ever.

Featured image via NIAID – Flickr and Sky News – YouTube 

Share128Tweet80
Previous Post

Young Jews endorse Bernie Sanders ‘to model what anti-occupation Jewish leadership looks like’

Next Post

Community groups are coming together to help people struggling with coronavirus measures

Next Post
Community groups are coming together to help people struggling with coronavirus measures

Community groups are coming together to help people struggling with coronavirus measures

Arlene Foster & coronavirus

A new report should cast doubt on the DUP's ability to tackle the coronavirus pandemic

A picture of Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange

Blow to Assange extradition after Chelsea Manning is freed and grand jury disbanded

After days of resistance, Trump awaits results after taking coronavirus test

Dear Radio 4, we’re facing more pressing issues than surviving 14-days of isolation and no sport

Dear Radio 4, we're facing more pressing issues than surviving 14-days of isolation and no sport

Please login to join discussion
The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

by The Canary
14 May 2025
EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

by The Canary
14 May 2025
Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

by Jamie Driscoll
14 May 2025
As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji
Opinion

As an ACTUAL GENOCIDE continues, its apologists come for Gary Lineker over an emoji

by Ed Sykes
14 May 2025
  • Contact
  • About & FAQ
  • Get our Daily News Email
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

The Canary
PO Box 71199
LONDON
SE20 9EX

Canary Media Ltd – registered in England. Company registration number 09788095.

For guest posting, contact [email protected]

For other enquiries, contact: [email protected]

The Canary is owned and run by independent journalists and volunteers, NOT offshore billionaires.

You can write for us, or support us by making a regular or one-off donation.

© Canary Media Ltd 2024, all rights reserved | Website by Monster | Hosted by Krystal | Privacy Settings

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • UK
    • Global
    • Analysis
    • Trending
  • Editorial
  • Features
    • Features
    • Environment
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Money
    • Science
    • Business
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Sport & Gaming
  • Media
    • Video
    • Cartoons
  • Opinion

© 2023 Canary - Worker's co-op.

Before you go, have you seen...?

The British Museum just held an event with the Israeli embassy - and the Met police responded by repressing Palestine protesters
News
The Canary

British Museum holds event with the Israeli embassy – so Met Police respond by repressing Palestine protesters

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer's in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London
Analysis
Ed Sykes

EXPOSED: the public is paying for Keir Starmer’s in-laws to live virtually rent-free in London

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour's DWP benefit cuts
News
The Canary

People are coming together on 7 June to oppose Labour’s DWP benefit cuts

Keir Starmer's 'Island of Strangers' speech: channeling the racist rhetoric of Enoch Powell
Opinion
Jamie Driscoll

Is Keir Starmer capable of killing?

ADVERTISEMENT
Business
Nathan Spears

When digital isn’t enough: why paper still matters in modern business

Tech
Nathan Spears

How Digital Addictions Are Formed in the Shadow of Large Platforms

Lifestyle
Nathan Spears

Recovery in the Sun: How the Canary Islands are Becoming a Wellness Tourism Hub