The shelter saves lives and offers support for those with chaotic lives

A care organisation has been credited for saving a homeless man’s life.

Bethany’s Winter Care Shelter in Edinburgh offers emergency accommodation to those living on the capital’s streets.

Paul, who had been homeless for a number of months, is backing the facility after it helped him off the streets and get help for addiction.

Now living at Bethany Christian Centre, a specialised addiction recovery project for homeless men, run by Bethany Christian Trust, he said: “I really felt a sense of being valued when I stayed at the Care Shelter.

“I owe Bethany my life. Without the Care Shelter and Bethany Christian Centre I would most likely be dead by now. In 2019 I will be looking for a house of my own and am looking forward to the future for the first time in a long time.

“My health is stable and my life has structure, purpose and meaning. My confidence is back.”

Started in Edinburgh in 1996 with a 2-week pilot over Christmas, the Care Shelter has grown over the years to span seven and a half months over the winter, from September until May. The service is run by a small team of staff and relies on around 1,000 volunteers from churches across the Lothians.

They provide church venues for people who are homeless to sleep in on a nightly rota basis as well as providing and serving a hot meal. The service is funded by the voluntary donations of trusts and foundations, individuals and communities, as well as receiving funds from Bethany’s ‘Buy a Bed’ campaign, which asks supporters to purchase a gift to fund a bed at the Winter Care Shelter.

For every £21 voucher purchased, the Edinburgh Care Shelter provides a person who would otherwise be sleeping rough, homeless on the streets.

If you would like to support Bethany’s ‘Buy a Bed’ campaign you can purchase a Care Shelter Gift and help save a life this winter.