YORK poets, musicians and visual artists are teaming up to confront the growing problems of homelessness and poverty in the city.

Arts Against Homelessness is the brainchild of three grassroots arts groups: the long-running poetry and storytelling night The Speakers’ Corner, independent publishers Stairwell Books and poetry slam organisers Say Owt!

Compere Andy Humphrey, from The Speakers’ Corner, says: “Our goal is to pool the talents of York’s creative community to put on events to raise funds for local charities that fight poverty and homelessness in York. We also want to raise awareness of these charities and of the problems faced by the most vulnerable members of society.”

The group’s first fundraiser will be a cabaret night at The Basement, at City Screen, on March 23 featuring York poets and musicians and a headline set from a star of the spoken word scene, Ash Dickinson. The event has been made possible through the support of York Literature Festival and will be included in next month’s festival programme.

On the 8pm bill will be musicians Rob Nightingale, Casee Wilson, Angie Shaw and Sarah Dean and poets Rose Drew, Henry Raby, Jaime Bolzern, Bob Horton, Alan Gillott, plus others yet to be confirmed.

“Homelessness and the threat of homelessness have been on the rise in recent years thanks to the austerity programme of the Coalition government,” asserts Andy.

“A low-wage economy, benefit sanctions and the bedroom tax have left many of the poorest households in our city unable to afford their rent. Local authority funding and Legal Aid have been cut and people can no longer rely on the state to support them through difficult times. It’s left to charities to pick up the pieces.”

Arts Against Homelessness will support three charities: SASH. Keyhouse and York Foodbank. SASH provides emergency support to homeless young people; Keyhouse offers free legal advice to households who are homeless or faced with losing their homes; York Foodbank supplies parcels of food to help people through times of financial crisis.

“The work that our nominated charities do is very much under the radar,” says Andy. “Most York residents don’t know that these organisations exist, unless they fall on hard times and need to turn to one of them for support. That makes it difficult for the charities to fundraise or to secure grants to expand the services they offer.”

Andy suggests the national news agenda does not help. “It’s fashionable nowadays to stigmatise immigrants, the very poor and those on benefits. A lot of us in the arts community feel this is unfair. We want to do our bit to support households in need, and to champion the charities that are left to clear up the wreckage of David Cameron’s Big Society,” he says.

Compere Andy will read poems from his newly launched poetry pamphlet, Satires, published by Stairwell Book, and money raised from sales will support the work of Keyhouse. Tickets cost £5 and can be bought on the door from 7.30pm, by phone on 0871 902 5726 or online at
picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/york

All ticket proceeds will go to the nominated charities.

Meanwhile, the next Say Owt Slam poetry and spoken-word night will take place in The Basement on March 22, hosted by punk poet Henry Raby (“the one who wears band T-shirts”) and Stu Freestone (“the one with cool hair”). Doors will open at 7.30pm; tickets £5.