Leap year day homeless plea

CHURCHES across Southend are preparing to take ‘A Leap of Faith' - led by a Southend clergyman from one of the most populous wards in the country - to show love to those with nowhere to lay their head.

February 29 will see congregations across the town, propose that their members make a one-off donation, host a coffee morning, sell bric-a-brac or maybe sponsor something.

A few pounds here and there to help the homeless amounts to a lot when totted up. Already, Love Southend's January prayer week has raised more than £500 from believers.

In the congested Westborough ward, Love Southend chairman, Revd Stuart Kimber, of St. Andrew's said: "Love Southend attempts to show the unconditional love of God, to everyone."

Stephen Colyer, of the Homeless Action Research Project (HARP), says: "February is considered the
most depressing month of the year, for everyone. It has also been reported that February happens to be a time when more suicides occur than at any other time of the year.

"So how must Homeless people feel, during this, the lowest period of the year?"

Stephen, head of fundraising, has seen HARP statutory funding cut by 30 per cent. Unperturbed, he turned to local churches for help and Love Southend, the Boroughwide umbrella, backed by 85 congregations. Stephen had a proposal.

It is believed that Southend has the fifth largest homelessness problem in Britain. HARP's drop-in Day
Centre, pictured left, handles up to 20,000 visits in any 12 months. It daily serves 50 lunches to the hungry. It provides facilities for people to clean up, obtain fresh clothes, pick up toiletries. Its Night Shelter sleeps 14, who would otherwise sleep rough.

It's a work dependent on donations and with the credit crunch biting, it's time for ‘A Leap Of Faith'.
Stephen emphasises: "Homelessness is not ‘a cute charity', but has a devastating effect on all age-groups. This social problem cannot be ignored."

Visit website www.lovesouthend.org

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