Within the diocese many churches or their volunteers provide, enable or support the delivery of care for homeless people where they feel accepted, loved and valued.
Some offer overnight accommodation during the winter through Night Shelters, involving partnership collaboration between denominational churches, local authority Housing Teams and Social Services, other service providers
Guests often have differing needs including addictions, mental health challenges and debt.
Projects we are involved with
Winter Night Shelters
Our five Winter Night Shelters are each affiliated with Housing Justice - in Medway which also hosts a year-round Drop-in; Bromley; Bexley; Dartford; Tunbridge Wells.
Hope into Action
Hope into Action are an award-winning housing project enabling church partnerships to provide medium/long-term supported housing and whole-person care to homeless people in local communities. We have attracted investors to support the initiative and aim to start with one 3-bedroom house in Gillingham, supported by Medway Night Shelter and their associated churches, volunteers and local authorities, with Bromley and Tunbridge Wells following shortly afterwards. www.hopeintoaction.org.uk/
Genesis Medway Football
This collaboration between local Christians and sporting organisations hopes to engage with the homeless and vulnerably housed through a weekly opportunity to play football, share a meal, and for those interested, explore faith. To get involved email: sread@ambassadorsfootball.org
How you can get involved
Join your local Homeless Action Group to find out more about the latest news, work and how you can get involved:
- Medway: Belinda Beckhelling: medwayshelter@gmail.com
- Bromley: Rev Nigel Poole: nigel_poole@hotmail.co.uk
- Kent: Vanessa Nicholls: vanessanic@hotmail.co.uk
- Bexley: Charlie January: charlie@newcom.church
- Investors or Landlords please contact: Ed Walker: Ed.Walker@hopeintoaction.org.uk
Useful links and resources
- Homelessness: A Call to Alms Conference (30 June 2020) - webinar recording
- Housing the homeless: Hope into Action (13 July 2020) - webinar recording
- Community Hubs:Supporting Our Communities Through Covid And Beyond.(15 July 2020) - webinar recording
- Coming Home - Article on how Christians can respond to homeless from the Diocesan magazine, Together
Key Contacts
Magali van der MerweLead Community Engagement and Social Action Adviser |
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