What is Caritas doing with the money raised to help combat homelessness?
Caritas is seeking funding to roll out an innovative modular housing community, consisting of up to 24 homes built in two phases, providing temporary accommodation for up to two years. The proposed development requires a 1000m2 site, so we are currently seeking both funding and land to make this a reality.
How much do you need to make this a reality?
We are currently looking to raise £1 million, which will allow us to complete the first phase of our project, building 12 modular homes. A further £1 million will need to be raised to create the full 24 homes and further funding will be required to pay an on-site Community Leader, who will be a salaried employee.
Will people on Herm, Sark, or Alderney be eligible?
Caritas aims to support anyone experiencing homelessness in Guernsey. While we are not looking at housing solutions on the other islands in the Bailiwick, we seek to support anyone in need on our islands. We encourage anyone experiencing homelessness to get in touch in the first instance to see how we can help them, whichever island they’re from.
Where will the development be?
We have yet to secure an appropriate site and are seeking both financial donations and owners of land willing to use it to help the local community. The site will need to be 1000m2 to accommodate a community of up to 24 modular homes. We welcome conversations with any prospective landowners, who can get in touch at office@caritas.org.gg.
Where is this figure of 1,000 people experiencing homelessness from?
A 2023 Guernsey Indicators of Poverty Report notes that 1.8% of islanders are without secure housing. We take this to mean that over 1,000 islanders are currently experiencing housing insecurity. However, it is important to note that the States of Guernsey’s lack of clear definition of the word ‘homeless’ makes this number difficult to verify.
What experience does Caritas have in helping homeless people?
Following the report of 1.8% of islanders being without securing housing as well as reports of homeless islanders becoming anecdotally more and more common, we have agreed as a committee of Trustees to put our focus into helping solve this problem. Previously, Caritas has helped many disadvantaged islanders in a variety of ways through the Caritas Community Awards. These ‘awards’ have seen us help people with funding for education and training to help them secure employment.
What age will someone have to be to become part of the modular housing community?
There is provision for accommodation and support in Guernsey for those aged 18-25 through Action for Children. It is likely therefore that those we will support in future will be over 25 years old.
Will you accept people who are struggling with addiction in your community?
Addiction requires specialised support which we are not aiming to provide. We will consider supporting those who are recovering addicts on their journey to employment and housing.
What safeguarding measures will be put in place once the community has residents?
We will seek guidance locally and in the UK on the appropriate measures that need to be put in place to protect vulnerable community residents. We have already visited and consulted with a UK organisation who are willing to assist us as we move forward with our plans.
Will you accept ex-offenders within the community?
We will put in place a process to assess the needs of potential community members and how they might fit within the community. We recognise that ex-offenders struggle to find housing on release, and we believe they will form part of the future community.
Will you accept people with severe mental health issues at the community?
We will put in place a process to assess the needs of potential community members and how they might fit within the community.
Is Caritas still actioning its former work, such as the running the Caritas Community Awards and Mill Street Café?
Caritas is focused on solving the issue of social exclusion and housing insecurity in Guernsey as its top priority. Mill Street Café is now managed as a separate charity. However, we still engage with the community through the Community Awards and encourage anyone in need of support to get in touch in the first instance.
What should someone experiencing homelessness right now do?
We are currently looking at long-term housing solutions. If you need help right now, please reach out to the below charities who will be able to support you.
Guernsey Welfare Service
Independence Guernsey
Action For Children
Guernsey Community Savings
Citizens Advice Guernsey
At Home in Guernsey