An unexpected visitor...Pam Orchard, CEO

A very unusual incident occurred a couple of weeks ago.  A client came in with a sports bag and asked the staff to have a look inside.  It is with some trepidation that one of our project workers opened the zip, rather concerned about what she would find.

So – what was in that bag?  Well, the client had brought in a ferret. He found it in on the street, by a school in Forest Gate.  The client was from Poland and, language proving to be quite a barrier, we weren’t able to establish much more than that.  The history of that ferret and how it had presented at our service was unclear.  The ferret didn’t bite anyone and was very friendly.  Whatever the background to the ferret, it needed a meal, a drink, a poo and a wash.  We were able to help with the first three. We phoned the RSPCA, who came to collect the ferret, so that they could provide  more specialist care and a temporary home.  We logged this outcome as “supported reconnection” on our monitoring sheet.

Although only a ferret, I am delighted to see that the staff treated it with kindness and respect.  I am also very glad that it was taken away after two hours.  Looking after animals is not really our area of expertise.  Obviously we are more concerned about people – particularly homeless ones.

Interesting things happen every day at Providence Row.  What really touched me about this story was that, although homeless and in need of help, that client took the time and trouble to catch that ferret.  He took the necessary action to ensure it was cared for.  I have been wondering why he did that.  Was it a love of animals?  Was it because he wanted the ferret to be reunited with its owner?  Did he think the people of Forest Gate needed to be saved from the terror of a stray ferret?  Whatever the reason, that client acted extremely responsibly, despite his own difficult circumstances.  Would I have done the same?

All of our clients have a story to tell about why they need help from a homelessness charity.  The stories are sometimes scary and traumatic, others are just very, very sad.  We also hear about the mistakes people have made and how they have hurt themselves and those around them.  Some people only tell us a piece of the story and it can take a while to assemble a more complete picture.  Some people don’t tell us very much at all (much like the ferret).

Having said that, I think it’s important to emphasise that people aren’t like ferrets.  We need to offer much more than a meal, basic washing and toilet facilities to the people that come to our door. Our job is to help people to deal with the underlying causes of their homelessness as well as their immediate needs.  That’s why, over the coming year, we will be focusing a lot of attention on our mental health and substance misuse services, as well as our skills and learning activities.  Find out more about how our work with some of society’s most vulnerable people is developing by looking at our website www.providencerow.org.uk, following us on Twitter and liking us on Facebook.