Kentish Express Ashford & District
Church steps up again to provide vital winter shelter
For the second-year running, Churches Together Ashford will be operating a crucial winter night shelter to house rough sleepers in the borough.
The project, which caters for up to 12 people, offers homeless guests a safe bed, a cooked dinner and a hot breakfast as the weather becomes dangerously cold.
Ashford Vineyard Church is organising the three-month operation, which runs entirely on donations and was awarded a £9,000 National Lottery grant this year.
The location changes from night to night, but there are seven churches around the borough signed up to help.
The project is run by more than 100 volunteers, food is donated by Ashford-based company Brakes, and guests are offered support to get their lives back on track.
Richard Eason of Ashford Vineyard said: “Homelessness is a growing problem across the country and I think more people are waking up to the reality of what causes people to become homeless.
“All of us are more of less three paychecks away from being homeless – maybe you’ll lose your job, can’t pay the bills, a relationship breaks down, we’re all at risk.”
Last year, the project helped 19 people of all ages, four of whom were female.
Mr Eason added: “We know that in total there could be as many as 20 people sleeping rough in Ashford and their priority status, in terms of the council’s criteria, is very low.
“A parent with children will always be put above an adult man, so people can find themselves with no support.
“We want to be more than just a secure place to stay. We want to help people move on.
“It’s also about restoring their dignity and hope.”
Mr Eason said he had been moved by Ashford’s generosity and support, but said the shelter hadn’t yet received any financial support from the council this year.
When asked about how he would tackle the country’s homelessness, he said: “We think it is the government’s responsibility to deal with problems like this, but we’re all responsible for the community we want.”
For more information or to find out how to support the homeless shelter, visit ashfordvineyard. org
‘All of us are more of less three paychecks away from being homeless’