A minister who offers up his church as a place of refuge to homeless men is appealing for help in finding bigger premises.

Reverend Pastor Alex Gyasi’s dilapidated Highway of Holiness Church in a bleak industrialised South Tottenham backstreet is respite for up to 50 men nightly, falling far short of demand.

Bigger premises – whether in a good state of repair or otherwise - would enable the Pastor to put into action plans to reach out to a greater proportion of the homeless community he has been helping since 2007.

Pastor Alex Gyasi, said: “We at the church create an environment of love and acceptance for all, and this building means that we reluctantly have to turn homeless men away.

“The condition of the new building does not matter because some of the men here are highly skilled and able to renovate living spaces; they’re going through hard times not useless.

“We can train those who do not have trade skills.

“A bigger building would also enable the church to reach out to women, which we really want to do.”

Hospitals across London, including University College of London, East London and City mental health trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’s and the Royal Free hospital often refer homeless men to the church whatever their nationality, age or state of health.

Pastor Gyasi, said: “No one else is helping these men.

“We’re constantly asked by Crisis, British Red Cross and Refugee Council to give accommodation to men they can’t house: I get an average of three calls a day from big charities.”

Police officers also give the church’s address to homeless men public services cannot help.

Pastor Gyasi, explained: “We work relentlessly with these men to resolve their problems and the transformations I have witnessed are awe inspiring.

“Men have gained hope and self-worth; families have been re-united; marriages restored and fathers have bonded with their long-lost children.

“Men have ended their addictions to alcohol, drugs and violence and have used their experiences to help others going through similar problems they once had.

“They are the ones who realise the long-term impact this project has on helping people rediscover what it is to be human.

“It is inspirational.”

Highway of Holiness provides in-house advocacy, employment training, help in setting up social enterprises and more structured help to get homeless men back on their feet.

The good-will and generosity of its congregation meets funding needs, with some members agreeing to donate between 10 per cent and 20 per cent of their household incomes although many are immigrants surviving on extremely low salaries.

Pastor Gyrasi, explained: “Substantial funding is only available to charities who can afford professional fundraisers.

“At the beginning it was very challenging for the congregation and we did lose members.

“They were frightened the safety of their children would be compromised.

“That’s understandable because there were risks involved: these men aren’t necessarily ‘nice’ or grateful, and I only throw out an average of five people a year because even if they misbehave, our emphasis is on rehabilitation.”

In 2015 an Institute for Health and Development, University of East London, report found that for every £1 invested in Highway of Holiness, between £5 and £8 is returned to society.

In the report Dr Marcello Bertotti states the work of Highway of Holiness saves councils almost £110,000 annually in temporary accommodation and over £92,000 in reduced burden on unemployment benefit.

To find out more about Pastor Alex Gyasi and the Highway of Holiness visit highwayofholiness.co.uk or contact info@highwayofholiness.co.uk or 0208 808 4444.