Hemel MP Mike Penning has adopted DENS - Action against Homelessness as one of his Charities of the Year for the year 2007-08.

When Mike Penning was first elected as MP for Hemel Hempstead in 2005, he decided that each year he would select two different local charities as his “Charities of the Year”. For the year 2007-08, he has selected DENS – Dacorum’s homelessness charity and Hope for Children.

Homelessness in Dacorum may not be as visible as it is in large cities, but there are men and women sleeping rough – in cars, on friends’ floors, in parks and derelict buildings or in hostels every night of the year.

Homelessness affects a wide variety of people and can be caused by a range of circumstances including eviction, unemployment or relationship breakdown. In many instances the people are able to cope by themselves, but in the case of the more vulnerable in our society such as people with physical or mental health problems, those on low incomes or people leaving care or prison, DENS can and does make a difference.

DENS provides a multitude of services to help the homeless of Dacorum. In particular.

A night shelter offering emergency overnight accommodation. The shelter operates between 7.15pm and 8am every night and as well as an emergency bed, offers breakfast and evening meal for a minimal charge. There is a 30-day limit on use of this accommodation. Move-On Accommodation. This is offered to a selection of people who have reached their 30-day limit in the emergency shelter. This is a useful stepping stone into independent living. A new day centre which currently open 3 days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The day centre provides hot meals and an opportunity to learn new skills in an environment that aims to reduce social isolation. DENS are hoping to raise funds to open the day centre 5 days per week. Resettlement assistance. There is a Resettlement Manager based at the day centre who provides practical help and support for everything from housing to employment which enables homeless people to achieve permanent changes to their lives.

Mike has long admired the Night Shelter help that DENS provides and wants to help them extend their Day Centre service. Mike said:

“The help DENS gives by providing overnight accommodation and a hot meal is great but I really feel for their clients when at 8am in the morning they are turned out to wander through the streets of our town carrying all their belongings.

The day centre that DENS opened recently provides a much needed place for them to go. When they are there they also get help and advice from the DENS Resettlement Manager to get back on their feet again. Sadly, despite initial help from Dacorum Borough Council DENS have to fund the operating costs of the day centre from monies they raise themselves.

At present they can only afford to open three days a week even though they would love to open five or even seven. They need to raise an additional £25,000 per annum in donations or sponsorship to do this. This is such a good cause and if, like me, people want to help the best place to start is a visit to their website on www.DENS.org.uk [1]. ”

Last year Mike joined DENS on their sleep out and will be joining them again this year. The sleep out will take place in the grounds of St Albans Abbey on 7-8th December.

Photo: Mike Penning visits DENS Day Centre in Queensway.