CSWU

🎥 WATCH: The Heart of SHARE SHAC – Chester’s New Homeless Action Centre 💚 Every single penny donated to this campaign goes directly towards helping people who are homeless right here in Chester. Much more than a traditional day centre, SHARE SHAC (Share Homeless Action Centre) is a brand-new Homeless Centre here in Chester focused on ACTION, actively helping people to find a way off the streets, at the same time as tackling addictions and helping people into employment, many people who are homeless actively volunteer within the charity every day. With your help, we’re building more than just a safe space. We’re building a pathway off the streets and into a brighter, more secure future. 💬 What your donations make possible: • 🍲 Hot meals and warm drinks • 🧥 Clean clothing and warm rooms for up to 40 people • 🖥️ Computers and 1-2-1 support to apply for housing and jobs • 🗳️ Help registering to vote and reconnecting with loved ones • 🧑‍🎨 Arts Club, daytime activities, and our Repair & ReSHARE furniture workshop • 💊 Addiction and recovery support classes • 💷 Financial guidance and real, practical help This is your chance to be part of something real. Something that’s already making a difference every single day. 🙏 Please watch, share, and donate if you can. Today you can make a difference, tomorrow you may need our help - SHARE. 📍 Donate here: shareaid.co.uk/products/dona… *Everyone you see in this video kindly gave their consent to be part of it and share their journey. #ShareSHAC #EndHomelessness #Chester #SupportLocal #SHAREChester #HopeStartsHere Credit: Thank you to innov8digitalmedia.com/ for donating this production to SHARE. @Innov8Digitl

This was the scene just before our 2ndGEAR drug and alcohol programme began yesterday at the SHAC (SHARE Homeless Action Centre) in Chester. Now imagine trying to tackle addiction without a roof over your head. That’s the heartbreaking reality for some of the people we support. Many tell us they avoid shelters and HMOs altogether, because being in those environments makes it even harder to stay clean, for some, it’s where their addiction spirals further out of control. Some have even told us they’ve deliberately committed crimes serious enough to land themselves in prison, because it’s the only place they’ve ever managed to get clean. Others refuse emergency accommodation like SWEP, even in freezing conditions, because they fear it will do more harm than good. What they really need is something far more fundamental: a safe, stable place to call home. Having secure housing makes a massive difference, in fact, someone with a roof over their head is up to 5 times more likely to overcome addiction than someone sleeping rough on the streets. That’s why the #HousingFirst approach is absolutely vital. Beyond the human cost, the financial burden is staggering too. According to research by Crisis, just one person sleeping rough for 12 months can cost the local authorities public purse around £20,128 through increased use of council services, healthcare, emergency services and the criminal justice system. But even more stark than the economic impact is the human toll: the average age of death for a homeless man in the UK is just 45 years old. For women, it’s 43. Compare that to the general population, where life expectancy is 79.4 for men and 83.1 for women, and it’s painfully clear just how urgent this homelessness crisis is. If you know anyone who is homeless and would like a referral to the 2nd GEAR Program at SHARE please let me know. Shareaid.co.uk

Everyday the Trustees at SHARE receive an update from our team at the Share Homeless Action Centre (SHAC), this was today’s: Hi everyone! It’s been a busy but really productive day at ShareSHAC. Following our meeting with Housing last week, one of our rough sleepers, who has serious health issues, is now safely in a CATH house ♥️. Until his interview, we were able to put him up in a hotel, and now he finally has somewhere secure to stay. Another incredibly vulnerable person has also been placed in a hotel for a week to give him some much-needed stability. The ShelterSuites that Adam organised arrived today, and one of our guys on the streets tested them out - he absolutely loved them and gave them his full approval! I attended a professionals meeting about a client due for release from prison. A plan is in place - watch this space! Our volunteers have been amazing today, registering two new rough sleepers, supporting two clients with their homeless applications, and helping two individuals released from prison by providing them with essentials. Art Club is also up and running again, which is fantastic! We also had a visit from two community wardens who were really grateful that our guys have somewhere to go for support. A huge thank you to each and every one of you - none of this would be possible without your dedication, kindness, and support! 💙 @ShitChester @standardchester @chestertweetsuk

The brutal truth about life on the streets. We’ve spent years working with people who sleep rough at SHARE, hearing their stories, sharing their struggles, and trying to help where we can. But no matter how much we do, the reality remains stark: the average life expectancy for a person who is homeless in the UK is just 45 years for a man and 43 for a woman. That’s almost half the life expectancy of someone who has a safe place to call home. Half. I think about all the people I’ve met through SHARE men and women who, despite everything, still smile, still dream, still hold on to hope. And yet, society has let them down so badly that their lives are often cut short before they even get the chance to rebuild, as one councillor I respect highly put it “there just isn’t a safety net anymore”. This isn’t just a statistic. It’s real lives, real people, and it should never be acceptable. Everyone deserves warmth, safety, dignity and a chance to grow old. That’s why we keep pushing, keep fighting, keep helping. Because a home isn’t just a roof and four walls. It’s up to 50% extra of someone’s life If you agree, please get involved, you can make a difference and joining a local charity you can help us be that missing safety net. Here in Chester there are lots of groups you can support including @soul_chester @cathsince1972 or ourselves @shareshopsuk together we can make a huge positive difference to the outcome of many people who are affected by homelessness. #EndHomelessness #LifeExpectancy #homelessness #Homeless #RoughSleeping