A new service to meet the needs of homeless and vulnerable women in Jersey has launched this week by Shelter, first announced by Channel Eye in June last year.
The Shelter Trust, together with Christians Together in Jersey Housing Trust (CTJ HT) and a host of funding and partner agencies, has established a new women-only shelter to provide accommodation and a wrap-around package of support for disadvantaged women.
The new facility will provide an appropriate and safe living environment while facilitating access to a range of services including health and social care, counselling and trauma-informed support, and assistance with education, training and employment.
The launch of the service ties in with the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – ‘Break the Bias’ – which advocates for “a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination” and for communities to be “diverse, equitable, and inclusive”.
Jurat Rozanne Thomas, Trustee of The Shelter Trust, said: “There has been a pressing need for specialist support for socially excluded women, especially those whose difficult situations worsened as a result of the pandemic. This new service will significantly address current gaps in provision and enhance the level of care and support available to them.”
In partnership with CTJ HT, the owners of the property from which the service will operate, Shelter has established a newly-equipped and upgraded 21-space facility incorporating a range of accommodation and staffed by experienced managers and support workers, all of whom have undertaken additional training focused on meeting the needs of vulnerable women. The accommodation includes two self-contained apartments where homeless women who have experienced reduced contact with their family can be supported in developing the skills and confidence to regain the care of their children.
“This would not have been possible without the significant financial support, commitment and co-operation of Christians Together in Jersey Housing Trust and an extraordinary funding package of grants and donations from businesses, Government, and funding organisations,” added Jurat Thomas. These include the Roy Overland Charitable Trust, the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Ocorian Trustees, the Ann Alice Rayner Fund, Le Gallais Real Estates Limited, and the Fiscal Stimulus Fund, as well as private donations.
Angela Le Sueur, a Trustee of CTJ HT, explained that the Trust had been founded in 1996 to provide “affordable social housing” and had since forged successful partnerships with a range of local agencies to achieve this goal.
“We are delighted to be working with Shelter to establish a safe place for vulnerable women who need a level of calm and security and the time, space, and support to enable them to progress to full independence,” she said.
Until now, Jersey has not had any ‘women-only’ provision for those in urgent need of emergency accommodation, with the exception of the short-stay Women’s Refuge, which has limited capacity.
This new initiative will provide an emergency alternative, especially for those women who are homeless and/or cannot access Women’s Refuge, as well as an onward referral option once they have left the Refuge.
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Deputy Susie Pinel, said: “I’m pleased that our Fiscal Stimulus Fund contribution of nearly £190,000 has helped The Shelter Trust to provide this valuable support service for vulnerable women in Jersey. The project has used local tradesmen and contractors and the funding is also helping to create new roles to deliver the service.”
