‘Salt Path’ couple find shelter, thanks to Salvation Army

The Salvation Army stepped in to help a homeless couple who survived by following the Cornish coast Salt Path with only a tent for shelter. Their journey mirrors Ray and Moth whose story has been made into a film called The Salt path which is launching in cinemas this Easter 

Andy and Jo were made homeless after their landlord pushed their rent up to a level they could no longer afford. Following a no-fault eviction, Andy collapsed with heart failure and Jo was forced to leave her job.  

With nowhere to live, the couple embarked on their own Salt Path journey where they trekked the Cornish coast for 297 days, living in a tent while seeking a new life. They survived storm Aisha, winter snow, and water lapping at their tent. Like Ray and Moth from The Salt Path, they found Cornish people to be helpful and welcoming.  In the early days, Andy could walk no further than 10 steps with his backpack before needing to stop for breath, with the couple planning their route around stop-offs to replenish Andy’s heart medication.  

Andy said: “I would be in tears, saying ‘I can’t do any more’ and Jo would say ‘stop whingeing’. We would pick up each other. We had to stay happy. We would post on Instagram daily as a way of self-helping. When I started, I struggled to walk and I was able to say, ‘here I am, walking the coastal path, with a heavy rucksack’.”  

As winter approached again, the couple were looking for somewhere to pitch their tent in Falmouth, and through concern for Andy’s heart condition, were directed by council workers to The Salvation Army for breakfast and to seek help.  

They received support with clothing, washing and drying facilities and were directed to another local organisation, Health for Homeless, for a health check-up. Andy’s blood test results were alarming. He said: “That's when it came to light that my potassium levels were dangerously high, and I was in danger of having a heart attack. If we had still been on the coastal path I could have been in the middle of nowhere, so we count our blessings.” 

Karen Thomas, Commanding Officer at The Salvation Army, Falmouth, said: “We’re so glad Andy and Jo found us when they did and that we were able to help with immediate practical support. We’re seeing an increasing number of people walk through our doors who are forced to live on the streets or in precarious accommodation. While not everyone’s back-story gets turned into a book and film, we know that anyone can become homeless whether through no fault evictions, family break-ups, illness or addiction, or job loss.   

“Everyone should have access to a stable and affordable home. and no one should be sleeping on the streets.”  

The Salvation Army also helped secure Andy and Jo temporary accommodation in a hotel in St Austell to make sure they were safe and warm for the winter. On Valentine’s Day this year, which is also Andy’s birthday. the couple got the keys to a permanent home in Newquay, just a few minutes’ walk from the coastal path.   

The Salvation Army has eight churches and centres across Cornwall providing support for people who are homeless, including community cafes serving breakfast and lunch, drop-in sessions, multi-agency events, and outreach ‘pot noodle’ services.  

Across the UK Salvation Army homelessness support ranges from rough sleeper drop-in facilities at some of our churches to long-term temporary accommodation at our hostels, called Lifehouses, which also provide specialist help with mental health and addiction.