This winter, someone you pass in town could die on the streets.
Not in another city, not on the news; here, in Shrewsbury.
These aren’t strangers; they’re someone’s brother, daughter, or friend.
​For over fifty years, The Shrewsbury Ark has been a place of warmth, safety, and hope for people with nowhere else to turn. Over the decades, countless people have come through our doors and said The Ark saved their lives at the very lowest point of their journey. But now, we are the ones fighting to survive.
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Rising costs and falling income, mean we are facing the real risk of closure. We currently do not have enough reserves to remain open through this coming winter.
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We have streamlined our operations and striped everything back to the essentials. No luxuries, no marketing budgets, no shareholders. Every penny keeps the doors open, the lights on, and the kettle boiling.
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Becoming our friend will help us support people like:
Robert
Robert is a proud ex-serviceman and a father. When his relationship broke down, he lost his home and contact with his children.
Living with PTSD, he tried to cope alone, too proud to ask for help. With no statutory duty of care, he slipped through every gap in the system and ended up sleeping rough.
When Robert found The Ark, he had no hope and no direction. We offered warmth, food, and a safe place to start again. With our support, he began rebuilding his life, moving into accommodation where he will be able to see his Children again.
Lucy
Lucy was almost sixty when she found herself sleeping rough in Shrewsbury.
After years caring for her mother through dementia, she lost both her home and her purpose when her mother died. She used her savings to start again, but when her income ran out, she fell behind on rent. Struggling to navigate a complex system, she had nowhere else to go and ended up sleeping rough.
When Lucy found The Shrewsbury Ark, she finally received the support she needed. She’s now taking positive steps to rebuild her life and secure a safe future. Lucy said, “Without support from The Ark, I wouldn’t have known what to do or where to get help.”
James
James was fifty when he became homeless for the first time. After his father died and the family tenancy ended, he suddenly had nowhere to live.
James has additional needs and was especially vulnerable. He spent time sleeping on the streets during the winter, unsure where to turn.
When James found The Shrewsbury Ark, we gave him warmth, food, and support. He’s now in supported accommodation and rebuilding his life.
James said, “The Ark was here when I needed it. If you hadn’t been here, I don’t know where I’d be now. It’s amazing, this place.”
