More than 2,000 people are expected to be welcomed into church-run night shelters across the UK this winter, according to a new report.<\/p>\n
A study of Church and Community Night Shelters by the Christian homelessness charity Housing Justice showed 2,171 homeless guests were accommodated in 500 venues last winter with a similar number or more expected to be accommodated this season.<\/p>\n
Volunteers invested 231,000 hours of time to help run the shelters, which if given a financial value, would amount to more than \u00c2\u00a33 million, with 39% of guests receiving help to make a move into their own accommodation.<\/p>\n
Welcoming the report the Rt Revd James Langstaff, Bishop of Rochester and Chair of Housing Justice said: “The overwhelming majority, more than 80%, of these projects have at least one Church of England church taking part working alongside others to provide warmth and welcome to those in need. I am deeply grateful to those volunteers who give of themselves providing not only food and shelter but a love of the neighbour. The role of Churches at the heart of the projects shows the quiet, committed service, offered to the vulnerable, as an expression of love and discipleship.”<\/p>\n