The retiree helping to house the homeless

After seeing pleas for homes on social media, Chris Murray decided to make it his mission to help house the homeless.

During the course of 2024, the Guernsey retiree helped 10 people find somewhere to live.

He has already added another to that list this year, but still had 25 others he was looking to help.

His campaign "House the Homeless" started off as Mr Murray gathered supplies such as sleeping bags and coats to deliver to those without a roof over their heads.

But, he said he could "never find them because they don't go where they are going to go until night".

Now, he communicates to those needing assistance via social media and helps put enquiries into landlords.

"Places come up, they go in seconds" he said, "I'm retired, I have time".

In 2023, the States estimated more than 1,000 islanders were insecurely housed.

Mr Murray said his next concern was the amount of housing available, but was encouraged by the Development and Planning Authority's plans to use more brownfield sites.

Eight new sites have been earmarked for affordable housing.

There is also a dedicated homeless charity, At Home in Guernsey, which has now been in operation for a year.

Since the charity started taking referrals in December, it has worked with 25 clients, which the chair of the charity, Jane St Pier, said were "every age, every demographic"

"We now need to change things systematically, so people aren't facing the trauma, the anxiety and the challenges of the risk of homelessness".

As part of the charity's 2025 plan, it has started to develop a 'home share' scheme in partnership with the States.

Islanders with an extra room can provide living spaces for those who need it, in a voluntary or paid capacity.

It was also looking at providing interim accommodation after finding there was a "desperate need" for temporary places to stay.

Mrs St Pier said: "If people are thinking of doing different things with their properties, I think it's important they consider, can this become part of the emergency or interim accommodation that the island desperately needs".

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