‘We can and must do more’

Civic and charity stakeholders in Manchester are calling for greater collaboration among government agencies, businesses and citizens to address the challenge of homelessness in the parish.

Speaking at the handover ceremony of a solar energy system to the Mandeville-based Candle in the Dark Empowerment Centre by the JN Circle Mandeville chapter on August 28, Custos of Manchester, Lt Col Garfield Green, said: “We can and must do more for those who find themselves in these circumstances.”

Candle in the Dark Empowerment Centre, located in the Manchester capital, provides services to the homeless and mentally challenged in Manchester.

The custos said while the solar energy system handed over by the JN Circle is a step towards a brighter future for individuals who use the shelter, there is a need for more comprehensive solutions that will address the root cause of homelessness in the parish.

He said the presence of homeless persons in the community is a “stark reminder” of the work that needs to be done.

“We must advocate for the systemic changes that provide greater care for the homeless, ensuring that they are not just sheltered, but also supported in their journey towards stability and self-sufficiency,” he said.

He added: “It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual has access to resources they need which includes affordable housing, mental health services, job training and a supportive community.”

Through its grants programme, the JN Foundation provided $1.5 million to the JN Circle Mandeville chapter for the procurement and installation of the solar energy system at Candle in the Dark. The system features five panels, located on the roof of the main building, an inverter and a battery. It is designed to cover 70 per cent of the shelter’s electricity bill. Since being installed in June, it has already reduced their energy cost by 50 per cent.

Dr Wendy Freckleton, president of the JN Circle Mandeville chapter and chairman of Candle in the Dark Ministries, said the shelter will now be able to expand its operations to clients, pointing out that there is currently a new wing at the back of the compound yet to receive electricity.

She encouraged support from the wider society.

“The state of homelessness in Manchester is nothing to smile about,” she said.“There are many others that really need that type of care, but they don’t have that mental ability to walk to Candle in the Dark; they will practically need someone to assist them in getting here ... . It is important that we take care of those who need it most,” she stressed.

Claudine Allen, general manager for the JN Foundation, said the handover of the system to the shelter is a manifestation of the vision of the JN Circle, which has evolved into a global network of JN members and customers of the JN Group who, by leveraging the JN network, serve as advocates and community change agents to improve their own lives and positively impact their communities.

“We started our solution design thinking about ‘How do we make partnership work in a real, tangible and sustainable way, and in a way that leaves the people better than we found them?’

“And one of the things that we decided to do at that time was that, whatever we do and with whomever, there was a capacity-building component; there was community building; there was advocacy; and, of course, there was networking evident in the work. And the work that was done at Candle in the Dark fits perfectly into all of that,” she said.