ORGANISERS of a night shelter based in churches in Wrexham say they are already helping the homeless move on into permanent accommodation.

Seven places of worship have joined in the project, run by Housing Justice Cymru and supported by the Diocese of St Asaph, which will provide temporary accommodation for 10 street homeless people for ten weeks through to the end of March.

One man who received help from the pilot project last year has established himself in a tenancy, while a homeless man who has secured a bed for the night as part of this year’s scheme has secured a permanent job.

This year the shelter project has been expanded to run every night of the week during the cold snap

The homeless are picked up and taken to the shelters before returning to their familiar haunts in the morning. But the hope is that with help and signposting to other agencies they can end their treacherous lives on the streets and solve their long-term housing needs.

The Rev. Sam Erlandson, vicar at All Saints in Poyser Street, said: “This isn’t about sustaining a problem, but trying to improve and move things on. We don’t want to see the same people using the system next year.

“It is all about trying to offer practical advice as well.”

Around 200 volunteers have donated their time to set up camp beds each night in a different church, while a guest table is laid so they can offer the homeless a home-cooked meal.

The volunteers have spoken about how they are helping out at Wrexham Methodist Church in Regent Street.

Elaine Matthieson, 67, a parishioner at Christchurch in Acton, said: “You can’t go around Wrexham without being aware of how many more people there are homeless on the streets. It is so cold at this time of the year, but there are a lot more.

“When I heard about this I was so excited that something was being done. The ethos is they are treated as guests and we eat together which enables us to build relationships. It is really good to see everyone working together.”

Beryl Matthews, 69, a parishioner at Trinity in King Street, said: “A couple (of the homeless) were a little bit edgy at first because they couldn’t have a cigarette, but they were lovely afterwards.

“There is a real problem. I’ve heard there are a lot of people sleeping in tents near the hospital (Maelor).”

The scheme was trialled last year on a weekly basis last year.

Wrexham Methodist Church is one of the seven venues to be used, but the others remain anonymous as church organisers appreciate it can be a delicate balancing act between helping out a difficult to reach group and keeping onside with local neighbours.

Rev Erlandson added: “A lot of churches are realising they have got excellent resources and it is about being generous with them and putting them to good use.

“This is what Christian hope is all about. It is about saying this situation is not good enough and something needs to be done. It is about getting up and saying we are going to volunteer to try and improve the situation.

Wrexham Council has thrown its weight behind the project referring people as part of its long-term strategy to tackle the street homeless, which has also included profiling rough sleepers.

Last week, it installed four converted shipping containers to increase accommodation for the homeless at the Ty Nos night shelter on Holt Road.

Council leader Mark Pritchard said: “This is a wonderful scheme extra provision which is needed during the cold months. They have to be registered as rough sleepers with Ty Nos and never quite know the numbers.

“We might have 10 today and we might have six the next day. They don’t just come from Wrexham, but Flintshire, Denbighshire, Barmouth and all over North Wales.

“Now we want other authorities across North Wales and Cheshire to replicate this otherwise the demand will be here. There are not enough schemes and we need to work in partnerships, although the individuals on the street don’t care who delivers the service - they just want a bed for the night and somewhere warm and friendly.”