I was clearing out some old paperwork this week at the West London Mission and I found some fascinating old newspaper clippings relating to homelessness. One clipping particularly struck me. It was from The Sun, March 1990. It starts: IT's time we stopped feeling guilty about the plight of dossers sleeping rough on our streets. Professional weepers… Continue reading ‘Dossers’ who choose to sleep rough and the ‘professional weepers’ who care: ‘The Sun’ on homelessness in 1990
Author: Jon Kuhrt
Jon Kuhrt has worked with people affected by homelessness for over 30 years. He is a former government adviser on how faith groups address rough sleeping and is now CEO of Hope into Action. He lives with his wife in Streatham, south London and they have 3 children. He likes football....but loves cricket.
Wallowing in nostalgia or facing up to the challenges of today?
This week I was invited to an event at Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the famous film Cathy Come Home in the company of MPs and its director Ken Loach. In 1966, it was watched by over 12 million people and had a massive impact on people's views about homelessness. It led to the creation… Continue reading Wallowing in nostalgia or facing up to the challenges of today?
Closet Christianity and the parable of the religious candles
Photo by Pelageia Zelenina on Pexels.com "There was a power cut the other night. When the lights went out, I fumbled to the cupboard where we keep the candles for nights like this. I grabbed four of them. I was turning to leave with the large candle in my hand when I heard a voice, "Now,… Continue reading Closet Christianity and the parable of the religious candles
What’s more important, what the Church SAYS or what it DOES?
At Streatham Baptist Church last week, I had a debate with the senior Pastor, Phil Robinson about our mission as a church. Should we emphasise proclamation or social action? What is more important - what the Church says or what it does? As a preacher, Phil insisted that proclamation and evangelism was the fundamental imperative - people need to hear… Continue reading What’s more important, what the Church SAYS or what it DOES?
Homelessness: personal tragedy & political failure
The annual service to commemorate homeless people who have died in the past year was held today at packed St Martins-in-the-Fields church, central London. As part of the service, The Choir with No Name and Streetwise Opera performed songs and the names of 160 homeless people who have died in the past year were… Continue reading Homelessness: personal tragedy & political failure
Disagreeing well is good for us (far better than echo-chambers which just reinforce what we already believe)
It has been a fascinating seeing the reaction to the article written by my old school friend, Nick Miles' on why he is voting for Trump. One of my cousins texted me and said 'Oh Jon, what have you unleashed on Facebook?' as he saw my feed flooded with heated debate in response to the pro-Trump… Continue reading Disagreeing well is good for us (far better than echo-chambers which just reinforce what we already believe)
The harrowing reality of UK poverty: ‘I, Daniel Blake’ [Review]
In 1967, Ken Loach's film Cathy Come Home was a seminal moment in the national consciousness about homelessness. The film led directly to the formation of the national housing charity Shelter. I, Daniel Blake is a Cathy Come Home for our times. Loach has once again shone an unflinching spotlight on poverty in the UK today. Its a film… Continue reading The harrowing reality of UK poverty: ‘I, Daniel Blake’ [Review]
‘It has saved me from a whole heap of misery’: one night sleeping rough to help bring others in from the cold
On Friday night, 40 people slept outside on cardboard in the churchyard of St James' Church Piccadilly in central London. I was there, along with my Mum (75), son (13), daughter (8), as well as my brother and two nieces. It was noisy and cold, and sightings of rats scurrying nearby did not exactly help any of us sleep… Continue reading ‘It has saved me from a whole heap of misery’: one night sleeping rough to help bring others in from the cold
What would the prophet Amos say to Donald Trump?
One of my favourite parts of my job is when I am asked to facilitate the spirituality discussion group at West London Mission's Day Centre for homeless people. We see around a hundred rough sleepers every day who come in for breakfasts, showers, medical help and appointments with our team. The spirituality discussion group meets every Tuesday. At… Continue reading What would the prophet Amos say to Donald Trump?
“In reaching out to the lost, I think I have found myself” – The Genius of the Poor [review]
“Somewhat ironically, my 12-month journey amongst the unlearned and unschooled has taught me more insights and life lessons than all my privileged education had achieved back home.” In 2012, Londoner Thomas Graham arrived in the Philippines expecting to stay one month. His assignment was to write an investment report on the Philippines, ‘one of the… Continue reading “In reaching out to the lost, I think I have found myself” – The Genius of the Poor [review]
