Receive email updates
24-hour Helpline0800 567 76 99*
*Calls are free from landlines but will cost from a mobile. If you call us, we will call you back.
Clarissa Griego, 20, a social work student at the Texas State University in America, has made a 5,000 mile journey to gain work experience with local homelessness charity Porchlight.
Clarissa says that the one month placement has been a big eye opener: “Seeing how homelessness services are delivered in Canterbury has really put some of the things I am studying into perspective. I now have a real appreciation of how people become homeless and it’s certainly not a lifestyle choice as many think. I’m really grateful for the opportunity.”
Clarissa has never been outside of her home town of San Antonio, Texas, before this trip.
Clarissa also explained that America doesn’t have the type of support offered here in Canterbury by the charity: “We have shelters and separate counselling sessions but nothing like Porchlight where housing and support are combined.”
Clarissa has never been outside of Texas before this trip but has caught the travelling bug using her weekends to visit Rome, Paris and Barcelona.
Porchlight has 5 supported accommodation projects in Canterbury as well as a service supporting the city’s rough sleepers in accessing housing. They run drop-ins on Mondays 10am-12noon at St. Peter’s Church and on Thursdays 10am-12noon at the Day Centre by Canterbury East train station.
###
Date of release 28th July 2011
Leave a Reply
Website by Grow
