January 30, 2020 - 2797 views
Churches in Colwyn Bay and Llandudno are joining forces to offer accommodation to people who are homeless.
Five churches will open their doors on a different night each week to accommodate up to ten guests offering a warm welcome, a hot meal and a safe bed for the night.
The project is being run by Cytûn, which represents the churches in Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, in partnership with Conwy Housing Solutions. The project co-ordinator is the Revd Mike Harrison. He said: “I’m delighted that the churches are working together to support people who are homeless in our local communities.
“We’re running a six-week pilot project with more than 150 trained volunteers providing bed and breakfast to those who are homeless in our community.
“Conwy Council, through its housing division, Conwy Housing Solutions, will be referring appropriate guests to the shelter. They will be collected by minibus from two locations each night and taken to the venue, where they’ll receive a hot meal, an opportunity to relax and socialise and a warm bed for the night.
“This has been months in the planning and we’re looking forward to welcoming our guests and getting to know them.”
This Night Shelter Project is being supported by churches from all Christian denominations with seven teams of volunteers taking responsibility for a night of the week.
There is no overnight provision for people who are homeless in Llandudno and one small homeless hostel in Colwyn Bay.
Mike added: “While support for those who are homeless is often focused on our large towns and cities, coastal resorts like Llandudno and Colwyn Bay are seeing a rise in the number of people sleeping rough.
"Support for those who are homeless is available during the day but there’s never been adequate night-time facilities, so I’m delighted that the churches are stepping in to offer help during what are often the coldest weeks of the year.”
The first Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Churches Together Night Shelter will open on Monday 3 February and will run for six weeks.
It is being supported by the Anglican dioceses of St Asaph and Bangor, the Roman Catholic diocese of Wrexham, the Methodist Church and various evangelical and community churches in the towns.
