Staff and Guests at the award-winning Joel Night Shelter in Kingston showcased their pioneering community at an official launch on Saturday 18th March.

Deputy Mayor Rowena Bass, Bishop Paul Hendricks, MPs and other supporters got a chance to look around Joel’s purpose-built, 14-bed shelter and a new, drop-in advice centre which together have already helped more than 200 guests out of homelessness since The Joel Centre opened in March 2014. 

Former guest, Dave was put in contact with Joel Community Services when he ended up on the streets following the break-up of a 17 year relationship and four suicide attempts.

He said his healing started when he arrived at The Joel Centre, “It becomes like your family so get to know everyone’s problems, their highs and their lows. That’s when this community comes behind them and backs them up.”  

The Joel Centre, based at St Peter’s Church, Norbiton recently won a Gold Award for Best Social Action Project 2016 for its focus on providing a supportive community for guests, along with a bed for the night, healthy meals, laundry facilities and practical support. Joel also came under the spotlight in the House of Lords during a debate on the Homelessness Reduction Bill in February.

Bishop of Southwark, Rt, Revd Christopher Chessun, told peers how Joel’s emphasis on providing a home-from-home to reduce feelings of isolation was an example of best practise to help people break the vicious cycle of homelessness.

  Saturday’s launch marked the opening of a new, designated office for KCAH (Kingston Churches Action on Homelessness) next door to the Joel Centre.  KCAH offer a drop-in advice service to people experiencing homelessness in Kingston and can make direct referrals to the Joel Night Shelter. KCAH typically sees around 450 new clients who are in some form of housing crisis.   

The Joel Shelter has grown from 10 beds to 14 beds since opening in 2014 and now plans to expand to 17 beds. It’s hoped that this will help around 100 guests permanently out of homelessness each year.

Joel Founder, Rev Peter Holmes said, "As well as offering practical support, such as pointing people with addiction issues towards help, the Joel Community provides a safe place where people can literally gather around a shared table and feel valued, often for the first time. Our close partnership with KCAH is instrumental in helping people to find a pathway out of homelessness. This approach can truly transform lives - we've seen it time and time again.”

Submitted by Sue Cole