CARIS Islington Churches Cold Weather Shelter

Providing emergency accommodation to non-statutory homeless people

The CARIS Islington Churches Cold Weather Shelter (CICCWS) project is one of a London-wide network of multi-denominational church winter shelter projects.
 
The Cold Weather Shelter project’s seven participating churches open on a designated night of the week and offer a bed, meals, in some cases a shower and laundry facilities to 15+ homeless people during January, February and March. Six of the Churches are based in the borough of Islington (which has no direct access hostel) and one is based in Hackney. The project is run by an established pool of volunteers now some 350+ strong.
 
The project caters predominantly for those people deemed 'non-statutory homeless' and also provides emergency accommodation to EU10 migrants and asylum seekers with limited access to public funds. The guest admissions process includes a risk assessment that allows the project coordinator to refer individuals that would pose an 'unreasonable risk' on to other more appropriate provision such as specialist mental health projects or drug treatment. By being involved in Islington Council's Outreach forum the project has referral arrangements with a network of local agencies.
 
The project coordinator provides support to the residents and sometimes accompanies them to engage with appropriate professional agencies and support services. Whenever possible, move-on accommodation is secured for residents in partnership with other local statutory and voluntary agencies.
 

Key steps to establish the project

  • CARIS Islington was initially set up as a bereavement service and became a registered charity in 1995. At this point the Trustees decided to expand their work to helping homeless people
  • The project sought funding and volunteers through the local churches. Church 'team leaders' will advertise for volunteers and sometimes distribute leaflets
  • When new churches joined the project, the Project Coordinator arranges meetings with community members and local stakeholders to discuss any concerns about the shelter and also invites them to visit the other church shelters in the project
  • Before a new shelter is opened there will be an open night when interested parties will meet existing volunteers and service-users.
  • The Project Coordinator has worked to establish strong, reciprocal working relationships with the full scope of support services available in the area (statutory and voluntary). 

Lessons learnt  

  • It is important to link in to local voluntary and statutory forums. Engagement with the Winter Shelter Forum, formed and chaired by the umbrella organisation Housing Justice has allowed the project to share experience and training and facilitates referrals between different Winter Shelters across London. Participating in Islington Council’s Safer Islington Partnership initiative and Outreach Forum has helped the project to create links with the Islington Drug and Alcohol Action Team (IDAAT), the Primary Care Trust, drug and alcohol treatment agencies and representatives from other statutory and voluntary agencies.
  • It is vital to engage with residents to assess their move-on options. In 2008, of the 92 guests that stayed longer than one night, 31 (more than 30%) were found more secure accommodation.
  • Developing a partnership with local libraries can be an easy and sustainable way to provide training courses or meaningful activity for residents. 

Key message 

CARIS has found that a strong network of relationships with other local service providers – for example libraries – can help with the breadth of services on offer. Engaging with residents to establish their move on options is also key to developing achievable future plans for accommodation.  
 
For more information contact the project coordinator Mark Brennan.