OUR MISSION IS TO HOUSE AND SUPPORT THE HOMELESS, WHOEVER THEY ARE

At Shelter from the Storm we don’t waste our time and energy worrying about whose responsibility someone is, which Borough is going to pick up the tab. Because our shelter is run by volunteers and we raise all our own money, we can receive guests from any borough, agency, or country, from the Probation Service to the Red Cross, regardless of their access to funding.

We provide a warm bed, a lovingly cooked dinner and breakfast for 36 guests, 18 men and 18 women a night, 365 days a year. We started with one night in the crypt of a church and now we’re the only year-round homeless shelter completely free to guests and we don’t get a penny from the government.

We have identified a growing need among the young homeless and amongst women.  Traditionally homeless shelters have focussed on men, often alcoholic and drug addicted.  While we still cater for the well being of this group with nutrition, counselling and access to detox and rehab, we also recognise the different health and social needs of our young and female users.  We are dealing more and more with women (and men) fleeing trafficking and torture.

We have fostered partnerships with industry to find employment and training for our guests and with Landlords to find suitable, decent accommodation.

We have become the first and only option for some of the most marginalised people in our society.  We have established links with Kids Company, New Horizon, The Red Cross, The Metropolitan Police Trafficking Division, The Scarlet Centre (for women escaping sex work), all the agencies dealing with the homeless and all the London Hospitals.

With your love and support we weave a net and then we catch our guests when they fall through the cracks.