Helping keep the homeless off the streets this Christmas Day

2:56pm Wednesday 28th December 2005

Christmas is a cold and lonely time for homeless people. But this year it was a lot warmer for those lucky enough to spend Christmas Day indoors with volunteers who gave up their family celebrations to help out, as reporter ROBERT FISK finds out ...

THE traditional Christmas scene of a family sitting round the dinner table wearing paper hats and eating turkey is not an option for many homeless people.

‘I have hope now. If it wasn’t for St Mungo’s I really think I would be dead this Christmas. They saved my life.’

SHELTER USER LISA

Many have lost touch with their families and feel more isolated at this time of year than at any other.

Without kind-hearted people such as Edna Zotor, who spent Christmas Day working in one of the St Mungo's shelters in Lewisham, most of them would spend Christmas alone and miserable.

Workers at the St Mungo's shelter gave them the best gift they could receive this year the first step towards rebuilding their lives.

Support on offer at the shelter included access to healthcare, specialist advice including drug and alcohol counselling, housing and settlement advice and learning and training support.

Ms Zotor said: "It was a great feeling to enjoy Christmas with men and women who often feel so isolated and alienated from society.

"I think they can't believe anyone would care, they have been so used to being ignored.

"It is tragic really as any one of us could become homeless."

Twenty-nine-year-old Lisa, who did not wish to give her full name, spent Christmas Day at the shelter.

It was her first Christmas off the streets for three years.

She said: "When I think back to last Christmas, I was alone on the streets and didn't think I was worth anything.

"This year St Mungo's showed me the possibilities and I have hope now. I am looking forward and see a future for me.

"If it wasn't for St Mungo's I really think I would be dead this Christmas. They saved my life."

Ms Zotor added: "People often ask me how I can do what I do and I always say to them, the men and women I work with are all someone's mum or dad or son or daughter and one day it could be a member of your family."

Guests to the shelter enjoyed films, games and activities as well as a traditional Christmas meal.

There was a big Christmas tree with decorations and supporters of the homeless charity donated presents.

The hostel is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

St Mungo's is one of London's largest homeless charities.

It began in 1969 and now offers support and care for over 1400 vulnerable men and women in over 70 housing projects.

Call 020 8600 3003 or visit the website mungos.org if you would like to make a donation.

Coats and good shoes are always welcome.

Shelter facts

• Each year St Mungo's helps more than 1,000 people find a new home.

• More than 1,700 homeless people get involved in St Mungo's activity, training and employment programmes each year.

• Each night more than 1,400 people sleep in St Mungo's hostels, specialist care homes and supported housing.

• Every week St Mungo's 60 support workers help residents with their needs ranging from drug addiction to housing advice.

• Each day the organisation works with 550 people to help prevent them becoming homeless.

• Every night the four outreach teams visit London's rough sleepers.

• On Christmas Day St Mungo's workers cooked 1,400 Christmas dinners.

• St Mungo's currently employs more than 600 staff.