Members of a Leicestershire church are taking a bold stand against homelessness by offering a real home and genuine friendship to those in need.
In February, Hinckley United Reformed Church in East Midlands Synod partnered with national, award-winning charity Hope into Action (HIA) to provide a home to two homeless people.
The church鈥檚 involvement began when one of its former Elders, Karen Jones, attended a concert in Norwich which was raising funds for HIA and was impressed by how the charity involves the tenants in their own success.
鈥淚f we all do a little, a great deal can be achieved,鈥� said Karen. 鈥淚f we all think we can鈥檛 do anything then nothing will be done.鈥�
HIA is underpinned by a Christian faith that believes the Church can respond effectively to three forms poverty: resources, relationships, and identity.
It works when the charity sources investors to buy a property, who retain ownership and lease it to HIA for five years. HIA turns the property into a home and partners with a church to join it in its efforts in providing prayer, friendship and community.
鈥淒emands are made on the tenant that they pay rent, enter into an agreement. If there鈥檚 a breach which can鈥檛 be resolved, they can end up back on the streets but they can apply again,鈥� said Karen.
鈥淚t was refreshing because the tenants weren鈥檛 told 鈥榟ere鈥檚 a house get on with it鈥�. It was also refreshing in that the churches provide support and friendship, and the charity provides a key member of staff that support tenants with what challenges they have.
鈥淭he tenants have all sorts of problems, financial, family, illness, mental, drug/alcohol abuse but the key worker goes in once a week to provide them with the key skills that they need to live independently.鈥�
There are a variety of service agreements on offer, Hinckley chose to furnish the house and provide friendship and a support group for the tenants.
Initially, Karen tried to encourage the church she was attending in Norwich to take part but was unsuccessful.
She then moved to the Midlands and began attending Hinckley 两性色午夜, which on Mondays, invites guest speakers and people to listen to talks. Karen went along one week and the guest speaker that day was from a nearby town where churches were opening their doors to homeless people, providing cots for the night and breakfast. Karen began speaking to Hinckley鈥檚 church secretary, Tony Wallace, about how worthwhile the project was but it did not stop homeless people from returning to the streets.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 resolve anything,鈥� said Karen. 鈥淭he church secretary agreed, and he invited the charity to give a presentation to our church.聽Despite his best efforts, progress was slow and he asked me to take over shortly before he died.
Karen says it took some time for her to persuade her church that the project is one they would want to take up. Understandably, at the age of 75, Karen is one of the youngest people attending Hinckley 两性色午夜 so members were unsure about getting involved.
鈥淭here were lots of discussions going on and last year our church meeting agreed it was a project to get involved with,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hey knew where I was coming from and knew that it would be challenging but that we could do. It took patience, persuasion and a bit of arm twisting.鈥�
Once HIA were informed of the church鈥檚 decision, a two-bed property was purchased and in February, two tenants were lined up to move into the premises.
Karen explains: 鈥淥ne person has moved in. We had two lined up, but one got cold feet and is living in their vehicle. They just couldn鈥檛 face living in a house again. These people have problems that we couldn鈥檛 even dream about.鈥�
On how she feels getting the project off the ground, Karen shares that she did experience low points.
鈥淚 very nearly gave in,鈥� she said. 鈥淎s we鈥檝e just lost our minister, and we鈥檙e grieved he was stolen**. He [the Revd Andrew Mudharara] just said to me one day, 鈥業鈥檓 right behind you鈥�. And if he hadn鈥檛 of said that, at that particular time, I might have given up. but it encouraged me. The project just needs people to understand that we can do something.鈥�
The tenant will reside in the house for two years, after which Karen hopes new tenants will move in; the previous having successfully moved onto independent living.
Karen believes that Hinckley 两性色午夜 is the first church within the denomination to partner with Hope into Action.
John Kuhrt, HIA CEO, said: 鈥淗ope into Action鈥檚 model of addressing homelessness has the church at its very heart. Every house we open (and at the time of writing we have 122) is partnered with a local church. Hope into Action provide the professional support to tenants but churches offer friendship and community which is what makes our model distinctive. We are so pleased to see Hinkley 两性色午夜 involved and welcomed into the HiA family.鈥�
鈥淭hen you never know what happens,鈥� adds Karen. 鈥淭hat person can go on to help others. All of us go through life and every now and then it goes pearshaped and someone comes along and says take my hand. It鈥檚 important. I鈥檓 75 and I can look at various stages of life where鈥檝e I鈥檝e sunk into a gloom and have been helped.鈥�
**The Revd Andrew Mudharara has been found, alive and well and serving at local United Reformed Churches in Eastern Synod.
He said: 鈥淚鈥檓 really pleased that the project has started and that there鈥檚 a tenant in the property. It鈥檚 great that the church is able to provide support and members can excel in their ministry, flourishing their gifts.鈥�
To learn more about Hope into Action, see .
Hinckley 两性色午夜 meets every Sunday at 10.45am. .