- A new facility to support the city’s homeless community has been opened by charity SHARE. The SHARE Homeless Action Centre (SHAC) opened recently on Frodsham Street and founder Adam Dandy gave me a tour of the building.
Located in previously empty office space, the centre offers a space to relax, with donated sofas, a pool table, microwaves, tinned food and warm clothes. “We wanted people to be able to cook for themselves, and treat it as if its’s their own home. The old day centre on city road was more of a kitchen, we had to have loads of staff. “
Inside there is a large common area, a meeting room, a small kitchen and a stockroom. Currently the centre is open 8- 2. “Cheshire West will pay for taxis for people who have been in SWEP to come here.Next week we are starting an afternoon and early evening shift. Our outreach worker Sandra will run the evening session 5 -8. The main aim of this is to be a homeless action centre, we didn’t jut want to keep people in suspense on the streets, we wanted to come up with an action plan for each person and show them the route off the streets. Its so easy to get sucked into the environment. Parts of the homeless community go round in circles and never get off the streets.”
One day last week, the centre welcomed 29 people, 10 of whom had been referred by SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) and 5 who were. currently rough sleeping. The volunteers assisted 3 individuals in completing homeless applications online with CWAC (Cheshire West and Chester Council) and helped 2 others get appointments with the doctor. The centre also made the decision to place a number of rough sleepers into local hotels for a short period. This followed a fundraiser where people can sponsor a bed for a night for £30.
The new centre joins the existing support network for the homeless including the day centre operated by Chester Aid to the Homeless (CATH) on Grosvenor street and Soul Kitchen. Curzon House in Saltney was recently refurbished by the Council providing 36 rooms of private supported accommodation. SHARE work closely with the other homeless charities in Chester Adam says: ” We try not to tread on each others feet. With Sandra’s Supper club on a Tuesday and Thursday we make sure that doesn’t clash with something Soul Kitchen are doing. ” Soul Kitchen operate from Boughton on Saturday night and also from ForFutures properties in the week. Adam is very positive about the Council and the work done by individuals including Matt Bryan and Richard Beacham but is sceptical about the complicated system by which individuals must register themselves as homeless with the council’s homeless service provider.
One member of the homeless community spoke to us anonymously, explaining how he got into difficulties and lost his home.
” I went to Wales, from Salford, to meet a girl that I met online. Unfortunately for me after lockdown I couldn’t get back over the border and I lost my flat. Later discovered his ex had cheated on him. I ended up in Rhyl in the Sand Beach Hotel and some guy started battering his girlfriend, and I took the law into my own hands. I got kicked out of the hotel and got moved to the Travelodge in Chester. Only for the cold weather period because they had no duty for me.. I try and stay tough, I go to the gym and try and keep myself clean.
“I sleep on the rows. Its a bit safer, there’s cameras and I keep myself to myself. That’s me. ” I just like the area, the kids in Salford will just kick you in the face and I feel safer here. Its like a new start and I have made lots of friends. Most people here want to come and help, even if they can’t help you, a smile and a hello is enough for me. Where I’m sitting now has been a great help, Adam gave me a hotel room for a few nights and gave me a good rest. There’s SWEP , but its not for me tonight. Its camp beds and you can get something hot to eat. There’s quite a few homeless people on the streets and they’re doing as much as they can, I’m not the only one suffering, some have got families. I’m just a survivor. I feel alright about the future, I’m going to get a place of my own”
Given the rapid growth of SHARE since 2016 I asked Adam if he would ever expand to neighbouring areas such as Wrexham. “When we started Chester it swallowed our lives, and we didn’t realise how much of a problem there was. I’m not saying we won’t do it but we can’t do it at the moment until Chester is probably funded. We could potentially lok at one doing in Wrexham, but its probably 3-4 years away. “
- The ShareSHAC is looking for volunteers, both at the SHAC and at the Share Shop. Help is particularly needed on Tuesday and or Thursday evenings between 5pm & 8pm. To volunteer or donate visit https://shareaid.co.uk/
The Chester blog 
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