Yarra Ranges churches open doors to homeless as part of Stable One’s Winter Night Shelter program

CHURCHES across the Yarra Ranges are opening their doors over winter to make sure the homeless have a roof over their heads during some of Melbourne’s coldest nights.

Jenny Willett with Robert Fletcher and Pastor Peter Loss (right) at Lilydale Baptist Church which is one of the churches opening its doors to the homeless.

A GROUNDBREAKING trial to help the Yarra Ranges homeless is being run to make sure there is a roof over people’s heads during some of Melbourne’s coldest nights.

Hundreds of volunteers have banded together to help people sleeping rough by opening up their churches in the Yarra Valley each night to give people a place to sleep at night.

Within the space of nine weeks, a group of Christians from different churches formed Stable One, a non-profit set up to provide not only crisis accommodation but also meals, a shower and support.

Stable One’s Winter Night Shelter program will run throughout winter, opening a church each night to accommodate at least 15 homeless people.

Seven church buildings with kitchen and toilet facilities, as well as large rooms for dormitories, are being used. Each takes one night a week on a rotation basis.

There are 30 churches across the area involved including from Mt Evelyn, Lilydale, Kilsyth, Lilydale, Yarra Glen and Wandin.

Group founder and Lilydale Baptist Church member Jenny Willetts said the idea grew in response to meeting people who did not have a home.

Ms Willetts said she met a woman in her 60s who had been living in a car for about a year.

“They’re like you and me. It could be an injury at work and you can’t pay your mortgage and car loan. It can take very little to find yourself on the street,” she said.

“The biggest issue is housing affordability.”

She said homelessness could also include addiction or mental health issues.

“A boarding house is a rubbish option for people who don’t want to be around drugs and alcohol,” Ms Willetts said.

“We’re using church buildings for the night, providing an evening meal and breakfast,” she said.

Each week at least 95 volunteers are needed to fill shifts during the trial.

She said the shelter program provided a safe space, free from drugs and alcohol and guests needed to be assessed before they could be part of the program.

Yarra Ranges Cr Tim Heenan said the initiative was it was the first time a group had managed to do something like this.

“People can picked up taken to the church, given a decent feed, a bed and chatted to,” he said.

To make an appointment call: 1800 431 244.