Leeds will be following the example of Bradford in January, as different churches take it in turns to become a week-long night shelter for the homeless.
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It’s based on the model of Inn Churches in Bradford, which has been providing emergency winter shelter for several years and now involves around 27 churches and hundreds of volunteers. Each church welcomes around eight individually referred men, and offers them a friendly welcome, an evening meal, a warm bed, and breakfast.
Juli Thompson who runs Inn Churches says, “The way Inn Churches has grown is phenomenal. We even have local restaurants providing evening meals and hairdressers who turn up to cut hair. People want to be involved because they can see that they are meeting a need – and in fact, they receive as much as they give.”
Last winter, services for the homeless were under more pressure than ever. As destitute asylum seekers are at the bottom of the list, it was particularly hard to find night shelter for them.
In Leeds the project is being organised by the West Yorkshire Destitute Asylum Seeker Network (WYDAN). It will run from 4 January until 21 March, but another church is being sought for Easter week (21-28 March).
Volunteers are still needed – to offer a welcome, donate food or bedding, cook, or to stay with the guests overnight. Financial donations are also desperately needed. If you’d like to help in any way, please contact Katrina.