New women-only shelter opens

Thursday 10 March 2022

A new 21-bedroom women-only shelter offering emergency accommodation and counselling has opened this week to address the “pressing need for specialist support for socially excluded women.”

Until now, Jersey has not had any ‘women-only’ provision for those in urgent need of emergency accommodation, with the exception of the Women’s Refuge, which has limited capacity and is only able to provide short stays.

The Shelter Trust’s new facility will cater for those who are homeless or cannot access the Refuge, and provide an onward referral option for once they have left. 

The accommodation includes two self-contained apartments where homeless women who have experienced reduced contact with their family can be supported in developing the skills and confidence to regain the care of their children.   

Pictured: The new facility, which is operating from premises owned by Christians Together in Jersey Housing Trust, includes two self-contained apartments.

Staffed by specially trained managers and support workers, the shelter will also offer counselling and trauma-informed support, and help with education, training and employment. 

The need for a women-only facility was recently highlighted in the Homelessness Strategy, which the Shelter Trust helped develop.

“There has been a pressing need for specialist support for socially excluded women, especially those whose difficult situations worsened as a result of the pandemic,” explained Shelter Trust Trustee, Jurat Rozanne Thomas.

“This new service will significantly address current gaps in provision and enhance the level of care and support available to them.” 

Pictured: Jurat Rozanne Thomas, Shelter Trust Trustee, said there was a "pressing need for specialist support for socially excluded women."

The initiative was the result of collaboration with the Christians in Jersey Housing Trust, which owns the property from which the service will operate. It was also assisted with £189,000 of Fiscal Stimulus Funding.  

Angela Le Sueur, a Trustee of CTJ HT, said: “We are delighted to be working with Shelter to establish a safe place for vulnerable women who need a level of calm and security and the time, space, and support to enable them to progress to full independence.”

Treasury Minister Deputy Susie Pinel said she was “pleased” the Government had been able to help provide the “valuable” support service, adding: “The project has used local tradesmen and contractors and the funding is also helping to create new roles to deliver the service.”  

Other agencies that contributed included the Roy Overland Charitable Trust, the Lloyds Bank Foundation for the Channel Islands, Ocorian Trustees, the Ann Alice Rayner Fund, Le Gallais Real Estates Limited, and the Fiscal Stimulus Fund, as well as private donations.

“This would not have been possible without the significant financial support, commitment and co-operation of Christians Together in Jersey Housing Trust and an extraordinary funding package of grants and donations from businesses, Government, and funding organisations,” added Jurat Thomas.