A HOMELESSNESS charity took to St Helier’s high street yesterday to raise awareness and funds on World Homeless Day – as demand for its services reached an all-time high.
The Sanctuary Trust handed out information and collected donations before officially opening its third shelter. It will serve a similar purpose to one of its other properties, Sanctuary Lodge, acting as a halfway house for residents who leave St Aubin’s Sanctuary House once they are ready to live with greater independence.
The opening of the six-bedroom facility in New Street means the organisation can now provide support and temporary accommodation for up to 30 men across its three sites.
Sanctuary Trust general manager Sarah Tumelty said demand for the charity’s services had been ‘at an all-time high’, revealing that it had supported 21 new residents since the start of year – but had also had to turn away 25 people because of a lack of available rooms.
‘Many of those men were added to our waiting list and subsequently offered accommodation. Having a property in town is a huge asset, as not only does it allow us to support more men in crisis, it also means our residents can more easily integrate back into the community.
‘The transition from living in a shelter to living independently can be extremely daunting, so now we can offer them a comfortable, homely environment and be there for them throughout the process,’ she added.
Sanctuary Trust chairman Frank Walker said: ‘It is a significant milestone to open the doors of our third facility, particularly as we mark World Homeless Day, but we do so with a variety of emotions. On the one hand it’s a real positive that we can accommodate more men who are experiencing hardship and help them to get back on their feet. On the other, it very clearly highlights the growing problem we have with homelessness in the Island.’
He added: ‘This needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency, before the situation deteriorates further. Today, of all days, it is particularly poignant for us to really shine a light on the very hidden issue right here on our doorstep that local charities are having to manage.’
On Friday, Housing Minister David Warr published a four-part formal definition of homelessness, to help inform government policies and secure accommodation for those who need it.
Mr Walker said: ‘It is progress, and any progress has got to be welcomed – but what we now need is action on the homelessness front. I’m pretty sure that David Warr is more than well aware of that and I am confident that is what he is now going to do.’
He added that there were also a couple of ‘strategy days’ due to be held with the various homelessness charities in the Island.
‘We need, as an island, a co-ordinated action plan. So hopefully when [the charities] have come up with our strategy – and I’m sure government would be involved in that anyway – we can come up with some serious action points to minimise the number of people who are homeless. Our target is to eradicate it.
‘We know that will never happen but it has got to be a target that we aim at.’
