Ipswich homeless charity plans new hostel and work centre
Emmaus Ipswich, part of an international movement known as Emmaus International, is aiming to raise £1 million to create a live-work project for homeless people who are looking for help to move back into independent living.
The homeless charity, whose vision is to build security through the community and self-confidence through work, has launched a new phase of its development in Ipswich.
Emmaus offers homeless people a home, work and the chance to regain self-respect in a supportive community environment. Residents come off benefits, receive training, and work full time in a business set up alongside the community. Emmaus communities aim to become self-supporting through their business, with any surplus used to help others in need.
Emmaus Ipswich Chair Mike Jolley, a member of Hope church, said: “Emmaus Ipswich is the charity that gives a bed and a reason to get out of it. There are already some great homelessness service providers in the town and each serves a niche on the journey from homelessness through to a rehabilitated life. Emmaus Ipswich aims to work collaboratively offering a complementary service with a unique offering – security through the community and building self-confidence through work.”
“We are aiming to have an up-and-running project within the next two years. There are 21 Emmaus communities across the UK with most establishing second-hand furniture restoration projects. The Emmaus Ipswich work project is still being decided – we are at the very early stages of development of that but are appealing for anyone interested in supporting our work to come forward to help us establish this exciting prospect for the town.” 
At a meeting at Suffolk New College to launch the project, Roger Fern, Chair of the Ipswich Umbrella trust, said that an Emmaus centre in Ipswich would fill one of the remaining gaps in provision for the homeless. We have a day centre, a soup kitchen and this winter a night shelter run by the churches, but this permanent residential project would answer a major need.
As well as vital funds, Emmaus Ipswich is appealing for volunteers to become members of the business, community, fundraising, communications or governance work streams or to donate professional skills and advice.
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