I made an urgent referral to C4WS on 30^thDec 2008.  It was 7p.m in the evening and due to my client’s immigration status, a refused asylum seeker, he had no recourse to public funds and no access to the usual homeless hostels. His only option was to sleep on the street in extreme cold conditions for several weeks. C4WS is one of the very few places that will offer a bed for those with no recourse to public funds. Jamie was extremely efficient in dealing with the referral. He was also flexible and patient about timing in order that we could get the client to the shelter despite very difficult circumstances.Jhoana was very prompt in dealing with the admin and follow up. She showed fantastic hospitality and care for my client throughout his stay and kept closely in touch with me to discuss progress. It was always easy to contact her and Jamie by phone. My client was young, very vulnerable and had serious health problems, but from a caseworkers point of view, many anxieties regarding his welfare were well taken care of by Jhoana.

My client fed back to me that the food was great in the shelter and it was warm and welcoming. He was impressed to be provided with transport for important health and solicitor’s appointments as these basic issues are usually very difficult for him.  I felt the care showed at the shelter was over and above simply a bed & meals. The sense was that they really cared for each individual and spent time to get to know them and help in whatever way for the guests to move forwards in their life.

When my client’s circumstances changed and they were eligible to apply for Home Office accommodation, Jhoana continued in her support of the client offering a “Starter Pack”.

Overall C4WS runs an efficient, hospitable and very caring service particularly for those who regularly face discrimination and isolation.

“Christian communities have for centuries taken up the challenge of responding to the needs of the people they serve – whether social, spiritual or material. Philanthropic activity and the foundations of most modern UK charities are traceable to ordinary people putting the gospel imperative of care for our neighbour into practice. Churches opening their doors to provide winter shelter for the homeless and excluded are in this honourable tradition.

In the post 1945 era the state assumed the role of primary provider of care through the welfare state, social housing and the NHS – help for all whether old, sick, poor, unemployed or vulnerable.

So we must ask whether churches still have a role to play in providing help to the homeless. As chair of the London Churches Shelter Forum it may not surprise anyone that I give a firm “Yes!” to this question, for the reasons I’m about to outline. But there are other points of view of course – if this short piece promotes healthy discussion then I welcome that.

Here is a quick look at the current system and the gaps in provision, where many people are being conspicuously failed

Firstly and most importantly – the background issue to all that follows – there is a severe shortage of affordable housing for people on low incomes or benefits. There is simply not enough housing being built to meet current needs, and local authority waiting lists grow longer each year, particularly in London. At time of writing the government has raised the target of house building but for many it is still not enough. Seewww.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/

So there is effectively a rationing system allocating the little social, rented accommodation that there is to the most vulnerable and needy – mainly families and people who would be more vulnerable if they were homeless and on the streets than someone in reasonable health.

There is also a shortage of hostel beds or basic accommodation, especially for people without major life issues like drug or alcohol dependency, or mental health problems; in a word Hostels for single working people. There are lots of hostels, but because there is a shortage of move on accommodation they are mostly full all the time, and in any case only take referrals from local authority homeless persons units and designated outreach teams.

There is no provision for people without recourse to public funds, such as those coming to work in the UK from the new EU, or those who are here without status or documentation e.g. people whose claim for asylum has failed but who have not been removed (and are unlikely ever to be)

People who do not claim benefits, for whatever reason, are also excluded. Some choose not to claim welfare benefits for their own reasons, and some UK citizens are prevented from claiming benefits if they have lived and worked abroad for a number of years.

The groups outlined in brief here have no or only the most limited access to hostels or the other kinds of help provided by larger providers. Church shelters such as C4WS can step in and help people without the same constraints as funded and commissioned services.

There is no doubt that Church shelters save lives each winter and most, including C4WS, also provide the help and support that their guests need to find more permanent accommodation. They are very effective at providing the short term help that some people need

If after reading this you would like to find out more, or feel that your church may be interested in setting up a winter shelter please get in touch.”