Alan Park’s work highlights how Church Army is partnering with churches and agencies to make its contribution to bring love, justice and hope for the homeless as the Church Focuses on Homelessness Sunday.

“Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20, NIV)

This year’s homelessness Sunday on 30th January will aim to tell the story of thousands of children and young people throughout the UK whose lives are stunted and damaged by homelessness and the need for Christians to make a positive response- Church Army is doing just that.

Alan Park, Church Army’s outreach worker in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, knows better than most how much homelessness hurts, having been homeless himself for seven years, living with travellers for some of that time. He has pioneered a creative response to the issue of homelessness in north Derbyshire- launching the Chesterfield Holy Trinity and Christchurch bus project. The double-decker bus has already hit the road as a soup kitchen and there are plans for it to be fully renovated with a kitchen, counselling, area, kids play area, toilet and shower.

Alan Comments: “Government statistics don’t seem to highlight the very real problem in this part of Derbyshire with rough sleepers- but our team of volunteers and church members are all too aware of the issues and we are trying to do something about it.” Holy Trinity’s congregation raised £3,000 to help fund Alan’s vision of a mobile base for people who need help and advice about how to break out of homelessness but much more is needed. Alan comments: “Homelessness can happen with the break up of families, debt, alcohol or drugs. Nobody is exempt from being on the streets, it can happen to anyone.”

Edwin Bates, who convenes Church Army’s Homeless Focus Group sums up Church Army’s approach: “Our response is essentially practical and what we do is absolutely essential for those who care about addressing this issue through a faith based response. We aims to tackle injustice and poverty, and show care to ensure that each individual feels valued and is given the help they need to get back into permanent accommodation. We are about equipping people with the appropriate life skills to maintain independent living and come to know something of the knowledge and presence of the love of God .

For more information on Church Army log onto www.churcharmy.org.uk or to support Church Army’s work with the homeless call 020 8309 3519

Ends

Facts about Homelessness

1. Since 1997 over 100,000 are living in temporary accommodation (source ODPM)
2. An extra £150m will be spent to help the homeless by providing extra hostel beds for rough sleepers (source ODPM)
3. Numbers in temporary accommodation are projected to rise until at least 2008
4. The North East (17%) and East Midlands (16%) have seen the biggest increase in homelessness according to ODPM
5. Crisis claim that the official figures significantly underestimate the problem and that when children are included the figure rises to 500,000.

Diocesan Communications Officer &
Bishop's Press Officer
Diocese of Derby
(the Church of England across Derbyshire)
01332 388680