Build Homes - Build Lives - Homelessness Sunday 30th January
30 January 2005
Church Army is partnering with churches and agencies to make its contribution to bring love, justice and hope for the homeless as the Christians focus on Homelessness Sunday on 30th January 2005.
Through preachments and stories in magazines and newspapers evangelists will aim to tell the story of thousands of people throughout the UK whose lives are stunted and damaged by homelessness and the need for Christians to make a positive response.
Shaza became one of the hundreds of women who find themselves homeless in London each year, and through no fault of her own was forced to leave her job and home. Through Church Army’s Marylebone project, she was given a room, hope, and advice about how to rebuild her life. Since opening in 1996, the Project remains one of the few schemes dedicated to helping homeless women in London. Women come to the project from all walks of life - from a mother who had to leave an abusive employer and found herself homeless at 54, to a woman who had to leave her home town after suffering a severe sexual assault.
Based close to the Edgware Road, this unique two-hostel facility offers a portfolio of services to around 700 homeless vulnerable women each year, from all ages and backgrounds with a focus on achieving transition to independent accommodation by offering a hand up rather than a hand out. Women come to project for a variety of reasons - they may be seeking asylum, struggling with mental heath issues or family breakdown or suffering as a target for domestic violence or abuse.
The work of the Marylebone centre has been recognised with a cash injection of £80,000 announced by John Prescott as part of the Hostels capital programme running in the capital. This investment has also been complemented by the Portman House Trust who granted funding for 7 extra beds which will allow the project to accommodate more women - good news for a society that has been working with homeless women since 1891, but not enough to deal with the 40-50 women that have to be turned away each month. A major success of the project last year was to ensure that almost 50% of women who had contact with it positively engaged with regular educational activities, thanks to a partnership with Westminster Adult Education services - now in its fourth year.
Evangelism in this context remains a challenge, when the initial priorities focus on the provision of a safe refuge. Project Manager Edwin Bates comments: “ We have developed exploring your faith and bible study groups as well as sessions on exploring theology through film which have been well received.” The project, which is reliant on donations from churches, individuals and trusts provides all its services free of charge to the most marginalised and vulnerable women in line with its Christian ethos.
For the first time ever, the Archbishop of Wales’ Christmas Appeal last month was dedicated to profiling a range of Church Army projects operating across the principality, working with homeless people particularly young people with no previous church affiliation.
The appeal highlighted 'Just Housing' which provides a bridge into private sector accommodation for homeless young people; Ty Bronna, Ty Carlisle & Ty Danescourt which focus on short term accommodation for homeless young people and Valley of Hope - focussed on providing transitional housing and support for ex-offenders and those suffering form substance abuse.
Commenting on Church Army’s work in Wales, the Archbishop said: “God in Christ challenges us to remember those who are dependent on the love and care of others, especially the homeless, or those who for any reason find themselves at a crisis point in their lives. Church Army helps the church to reach out in new and exciting ways to homeless people, the young and the un-churched, seeking to create a sense of hope and fulfilment in their lives.”
Although better known for its pioneering building based projects, Church Army evangelists are also found engaged in sharing faith through words and action with those on the streets for whom hostel accommodation is a dream.
David Palmer, works closely with “Action of Christians together in Swansea” (ACTS), who co-ordinate a Christian response to homeless people in that part of Wales. David points out; “Although the council has a responsibility for homeless people, the bulk of the work is undertaken by voluntary groups, agencies and the church going out on the streets regularly to share Christian care and compassion to those in need: “I know many of those we meet on the streets as I run a daily “Tea and Toast” breakfast for the homeless in St Mary’s Church in the city centre which regularly helps up to 20 people a day. Not all are rough sleepers - there are also those staying in hostels or staying with friends or in need of alternative accommodation and care for a variety of reasons.”, comments David.
ACTS goes out each night of the week on a soup run that takes the volunteers to locations such as multi-story car parks, the high street and shop doorways. It is increasingly difficult for those on the streets to find adequate shelter when places are boarded up, shuttered off, or policed regularly through the night to move people on.
David adds; “This is a ministry focussed on responding practically to the needs of those Jesus called us to help (Matthew 25:35-36); it is much more than tea and toast as each person attending receives a warm welcome and a listening ear - the offer of prayer is rarely refused.
David is clear about the impact of this work: “Before a homeless person will experience any desire to improve their lot, he/she must be convinced of their own self-worth. In our regular contact with the homeless this is what we prayerfully focus on - the message that we are all precious in the sight of God and in his hands have potential to achieve much more than we could every aspire to in our own strength.”
Alan Park, Church Army’s outreach worker in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, knows better than most how much homelessness hurts, having been homeless himself for seven years, living with travellers for some of that time. He has pioneered a creative response to the issue of homelessness in north Derbyshire - launching the Chesterfield Holy Trinity and Christchurch bus project. The double-decker bus has already hit the road as a soup kitchen and there are plans for it to be fully renovated with a kitchen, counselling, area, kids play area, toilet and shower.
Alan comments: “Government statistics don’t seem to highlight the very real problem in this part of Derbyshire with rough sleepers - but our team of volunteers and church members are all too aware of the issues and we are trying to do something about it.” Holy Trinity’s congregation raised £3,000 to help fund Alan’s vision of a mobile base for people who need help and advice about how to break out of homelessness, but much more is needed. Alan comments: “Homelessness can happen with the break up of families, debt, alcohol or drugs. Nobody is exempt from being on the streets, it can happen to anyone.”
Steve Simmonds has a heart for the homeless and young people. He was commissioned as a Church Army evangelist just last summer and came to study at Church Army’s Wilson Carlile college of Evangelism after working as part of the Shrewsbury Churches Youth project focussing on outreach and detached work in churches, council-run youth clubs and a homeless centre. Steve says: “My outreach work with alcoholics, drug users, the homeless and prostitutes has put me in the front line of building bridges with people that most Christians find it difficult to deal with.”
As Community worker with the Malt Cross project in Nottingham City Centre, Steve’s night-time ministry is focused on reaching out to young adults who find themselves on the streets and at risk, often through no fault of their own. Working in partnership with a number of key agencies and volunteers such as BASE 51 that link in with drink, drugs and health issues, Steve uses his base at the Malt Cross Café Bar to get a unique insight into the city’s thriving night-time culture. Over recent months he has managed to establish links with the workers in the city’s night-time economy who come across homeless people on a regular basis - such as doormen, club management, burger stall holders, and they are able to discuss issues and approaches. Steve comments; “It started out with looking at what is happening and building up relationships. One man I came across in his late twenties who experienced homelessness and debt issues, helped to show me some of the areas in and around the city centre where the homeless hang out - including doorways, car parks and under bridges - the man has shown some interest in faith and is now attending a local church.” Steve has been able to apply specialist training in drugs awareness in his day-to-day work that has enabled him to help a number of young people on the streets - most recently a young couple in their twenties who have had problems with drug dependency and related issues. Steve adds: “We have noticed that anti-social behaviour orders are being issued to a number of homeless people in Nottingham and it is important that as well as showing Christian compassion and love that we offer the practical support needed to deal with this additional threat that many face.”
Edwin Bates, who convenes our Homeless Focus Group sums up Church Army’s approach: “Our response is essentially practical and what we do is absolutely essential for those who care about addressing this issue through a faith based response. We aim to tackle injustice and poverty, and show care to ensure that each individual feels valued and is given the help they need to get back into permanent accommodation. We are about equipping people with the appropriate life skills to maintain independent living and come to know something of the knowledge and presence of the love of God.
To support Church Army’s work with the homeless call 020 8309 3519 or click here.
