Merton College announced last Tuesday that they have pledged support for Oxford Homeless Movement Charter, becoming the latest Oxford organisation to join the cause.
The Oxford Homeless Movement Charter aims to help rough sleepers and provide the accommodation and support they need to help them off the streets, to rebuild their lives, and to prevent a return to street homelessness.
The organisation also aim to ensure that through their network of organisations and volunteers that people who are sleeping rough have the “same opportunity to access information, work, training, volunteering, leisure and creative activities as the rest of Oxford’s community”.
Following last week’s meeting of Merton College’s Governing Body, where they agreed to support the charter, the college’s Warden Professor Irene Tracey said: “I am delighted by the enthusiastic and unanimous support for OHM by our Governing Body. This is the first step in what we hope will be a long and impactful journey working alongside OHM to eliminate homelessness in our beloved city.”
In an online statement the College said that they were “proud to be playing a part” in working towards eliminating homelessness across the city.
In addition to signing the Charter to support its vision and values within the college, Merton pledged to make an annual donation to the cause for the next five years.
Merton have also published OHM suggestions of how to help including giving time, expertise and ideas to the Movement’s member charities who need support, either as a volunteer with a partner charity or through sharing your skills
They have also proposed inviting an OHM charity partner to come and talk to organisations about homelessness to raise understanding, as well as a commitment to inclusive recruitment procuring services locally from social enterprises and purposeful businesses, and paying the real Living Wage or higher.
Merton College has been contacted for comment.
