This Sunday, 5 October, churches across the country will mark Homelessness Sunday, a national event dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action around homelessness. The theme for 2025 is a powerful one: “Love thy neighbour.”
Now in its 22nd year, Homelessness Sunday is led by the charity Housing Justice, and takes place annually on the Sunday before World Homeless Day. Churches of all denominations are encouraged to reflect on the realities of homelessness and explore how they can respond with compassion and practical support in their own communities.
Across the Diocese, many churches are already actively supporting homelessness charities and running social action projects to meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness. Two inspiring examples highlight the impact of local initiatives.
In 2018 St Peter’s Church in West Molesey, helped launch the Molesey Churches Night Shelter (MCNS), a collaborative effort among local churches to provide refuge for those sleeping rough.
The idea was born when Revd Alex Munro, Rector at St Peter’s Church, met a man sleeping in the doorway of the church hall. Realising there was little to no support locally and no night shelter provisions in Elmbridge, Alex reached out to other local church leaders. Within a few weeks, they had set up a simple shelter scheme.
Seven years on, MCNS has grown into a well-established project with a permanent base and dedicated staff team. Guests no longer need to move between different locations each night. The shelter operates during the winter months, offering a safe place to sleep, a hot evening meal, and a cooked breakfast, along with the opportunity to connect with staff, volunteers and fellow guests.
Jo Annells, Social Action Director at St Peter’s, shared a recent project development:
“Last year, MCNS introduced a day service 5 days a week. This has made a huge difference as it means we can more easily make appointments with other organisations to support our guests out of homelessness.”
In 2024, MCNS supported 21 individuals, with 13 moving into stable housing. Alongside the 8 paid staff, 40 volunteers gave over 750 hours of their time and served 1,105 meals.
Watch the video below to hear personal stories from MCNS guests:
In Dorking, St Paul’s Church runs the Gather Community Meal, a weekly initiative offering hot meals and a welcoming space for those facing isolation, including rough sleepers.
Jane Cacouris, the Community Lead at St Paul’s, said:
“We’ve seen God work through this ministry in a number of ways. One man was sleeping on the bench outside the centre. He came in for a hot meal and our team supported him in finding accommodation and a job.”
Gather has previously received support from the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund, which also helped MCNS in its early stages.
Watch a short video about Gather’s impact:
Whether you mark Homelessness Sunday this weekend or at another time, it’s an opportunity to pause and consider how we can respond to homelessness in our communities, not just with empathy, but with action.
The Housing Justice website offers a range of resources, including prayers, service materials, and a special Homelessness Sunday prerecorded service from the Church of England.