Newport churches open doors to homeless (From South Wales Argus)

Newport churches open doors to homeless

4:40pm Monday 4th January 2010 in News By Jessica Best

A SCHEME giving Newport's homeless people a roof over their heads during the cold winter months will be extended until the end of March.

In the first project of its kind in Wales, the Newport Night Shelter planned to house 12 homeless people in one of seven city churches every night between November 30 and January 31.

But organisers Newport Teen Challenge say the project has been such a success they will continue providing beds through to March 31.

Night Shelter co-ordinator Jade Holtham was inspired to set up the scheme after working with the city's homeless in freezing temperatures last year.

Despite handing out free food from the Teen Challenge bus, Miss Holtham thought this was not enough to help the 12 to 15 people who sleep on the streets of Newport every night.

She had seen night shelters running successfully in London, and contacted seven Newport churches asking them to open their doors for one night a week to the homeless who are referred by Teen Challenge and 10 other agencies.

After raising £4,000 through volunteers spending a sponsored night on the streets, as well as donations from Gwent police and the Bishop of Monmouth, each church now opens its doors at 7.30pm, providing a hot evening meal and a good breakfast before sleepers leave the shelter at 8.30am.

The scheme is staffed by volunteers from more than 30 churches, as well as Newport Teen Challenge.

Ms Holtham, 24, said: “To see them have a decent night’s sleep, somewhere warm, it’s made such a difference and you can see it in their physical appearance. People forget that the homeless suffer on a daily basis and are often treated like they’re nobody.”

Raymond Olsen, 29, from Duffryn, was made homeless four months ago when he lost his flat. He has been forced to sleep in city car parks, but has used the shelter since it opened.

“This has been fantastic,” he said. “I don’t worry so much about the cold but the rain can be a real health risk. For homeless people like myself this is a great comfort.”