People experiencing homelessness at centre of Christmas celebrations in Hull

The Salvation Army in Hull is preparing for its seasonal celebrations and will be making sure that those who are most excluded do not miss out this Christmas.

The Lifehouse (residential accommodation) supports some 113 single men and women experiencing homelessness with a full resettlement programme at its Hessle Road site. There, residents can access a range of support including the opportunity to enhance their life skills and prepare for independent living, as well as one-to-one tailored assistance in tackling the obstacles that have led to them becoming homeless.

Service Manager Mr Pat Tamminen said: “Christmas is an emotional time for many people, with communities and families gathering together to celebrate. Many of the people living in our Lifehouses experience homelessness due to a breakdown in relationships and by becoming homeless they can also feel isolated from society – it can be a lonely time of year.

“As a church and charity, we want to make sure that people feel included in a supportive, welcoming community. At William Booth House, we offer a range of activities to engage our residents so they have something fun and positive to focus on as they work through the challenges in their lives, rebuild their confidence and prepare to move on in the future.

“This year we invited residents to decorate our restaurant and provided festive hot drinks and mince pies. We will also be having a Christmas party week with karaoke, tournaments, a tea party, a carol concert attended by other centres in the city and Christmas dinner for more than a hundred people – it will be a real celebration in the lead up to the big day.”

William Booth House Lifehouse offers people more than a bed for the night, it provides a safe space where people can start to address the challenges they’ve identified that led to them becoming homeless. There, they can begin to rebuild their confidence, gain useful lifeskills, access a range of support services and tackle the issues that could otherwise trap them in a repeated cycle of homelessness and to move on in their lives.