Waite backs homeless charity's Norfolk move
An international homeless charity, based in
Cambridge, is coming to
Norfolk in
April when it will be officially opened by its national chairman
Terry Waite (right).
Emmaus Communities offer homeless people a home, work and the chance to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment, but they are not for everyone.
To join a community, people must give up their benefits and abide by its rules, for example not bringing drugs or alcohol into the community. Each community aims to become self-supporting, with any surplus donated to others in need.
Rev Simon Ward, the Bishop of Norwich’s chaplain, is one of Emmaus Norwich’s trustees. He said Emmaus Norwich had already found a potential home for up to 25 homeless people, at the All Hallows convent in Ditchingham, near Bungay, but said it was unlikely that people would be living there before Terry Waite’s visit on April 12.
He said: “Our vision is to establish an Emmaus community in Norfolk, but there is still a long way to go. We are not at the planning stage yet.
“Emmaus offers a supportive, stable environment. It’s more than a hostel and not just a bed for the night, as the residents become part of the community.”
The Emmaus community in Norwich will be funded by a social enterprise in the form of a cafe as well as the refurbishment and sale of donated furniture and other household items.