The Salvation Army to shelter rough sleepers at night on the Isle of Wight throughout winter

The Salvation Army’s Isle of Wight Corps (church) will be opening its doors to allow rough sleepers on the island to seek shelter throughout the cold winter months.

The church and charity’s homeless support unit has joined Isle of Wight Council to help the local authority do all it can to ensure people experiencing homelessness do not have to bed down on the streets this winter. 

The Salvation Army at the Isle of Wight will be bringing rough sleepers in from the cold from 27 November until the end of March in 2018 and working hard to achieve the Housing Justice Quality mark for Church and Community night shelters during its first year of operation.

The Salvation Army already operates a street outreach intervention service that delivers personalised support packages to people experiencing homelessness on the Isle of Wight throughout the year.  

The specialised team helps rough sleepers find whatever help is appropriate for their needs – including access to addiction support or mental health and wellbeing services – and links to other emergency accommodation provision.

The new winter night shelter will now allow The Salvation Army to go even further by providing hot food and a warm bed for the night; seven days a week, during the coldest months.

Jamie Brenchley, Service Manager for The Salvation Army Homeless Services on the Isle of Wight said:

“William Booth founder of the Salvation Army once said ‘The Salvation Army is a place of hope. When every other light is extinguished, and every other star has gone down, this one gleam shines steadily and clearly out in the darkened sky. If I could only get to The Salvation Army, they will do something for me’.

“This year we will provide a winter shelter provision that gives hope to the many people on the Isle of Wight that are experiencing homelessness. We will develop personalised packages of support alongside individuals and partners, designed to support people on their unique journey from homelessness to home. This will complement our other homeless services on the Isle of Wight and enable us to provide an integrated model of accommodation, support and pathways back to independence. Life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.”

The Salvation Army will open the Isle of Wight winter night shelter from 27 November 2017 until 31 March 2018 from its Corps on Pyle Street, PO30 1UJ. 

Any individuals, groups or businesses interested in working with or for The Salvation Army in the Isle of Wight, in a volunteer capacity, can email Lucy Rhoden, Salvation Army Street Outreach Intervention Coordinator at lucy.rhoden@salvationarmy.org.uk

The Salvation Army is a church and charity dedicated to caring for people who are vulnerable or in need.  Salvation Army churches are at the heart of the local communities they serve and provide compassionate support, practical help and a warm welcome to anyone visiting them.