Invisible Cities, a social enterprise helping people who have experienced homelessness, will hold a vigil next week to honour those who have lost their lives on the streets during the pandemic.
The event, which is a collaborative effort with Shelter, will take place on Thu 9 Dec at Foundation Coffee House. Speakers from both organisations will share poetry and messages, before the launch of a brand-new photography book by Cristina Mallai, which chronicles the impact of COVID-19 on people experiencing homelessness in the city.
Invisible Cities trains people who have previously experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city. The book, Seeing Things Differently in Manchester, was created in collaboration with three of these award-winning tour guides, Danny, Ste and Mooch, under the direction of artist Cristina Mallai.
The volume of images highlights the effects of the pandemic through the eyes of those with the lived experience of homelessness in the city.
Zakia Moulaoui Guery, CEO and Founder of Invisible Cities says, “The number of people without a roof over their head has rocketed in the UK. According to figures that we’ve been highlighting from the Dying Homeless Project, in the first six months of 2019 someone affected by homelessness was dying every 19 hours.
“And last year 976 people across the UK died while homeless, that’s a 37% increase on 2019. Although only 3% of these were caused by Covid-19, the pandemic has had a devastating effect on those on the streets. A third of the deaths were related to drug and alcohol and 15% were suicides.
“The vigil is an important opportunity for the community, our supporters, service users and Manchester businesses to come together to pay our respects and support one another.”
Next week’s vigil is free to attend. Food and drink will be served on a ‘pay what you can basis’. You can register your spot using the button below.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Thu 2 Dec 2021
