"I was hungry and you gave me nothing to drink.  I was a stranger and you did not look after me.  I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

These haunting words of Jesus are the organizing principle of the Newport Night Shelter: when Christians see people in need, they are commanded to act.  Failure to help the "least of these" is failure to serve Christ.

It all started with another project: a bus outreach to the city's vulnerable, run by Teen Challenge Newport.  Volunteers for this coffee house on wheels saw another need: there was no emergency night shelter in the Newport area.  Many of the homeless were forced to sleep exposed to the elements.  In the winter months, this was not only uncomfortable but also dangerous. 

In 2009, a small group of volunteers resolved to address this problem.  Despite having no previous experience of running a night shelter, they were motivated to act.  As Stuart Johnson, one of the project's coordinators, explained: "It was not, 'Can we do this?'  It was, 'We are doing this.'  There was no doubt in our minds; God had given us the vision."

Stuart Johnson

They visited the Hackney and Camden night shelters in London, adapting what they saw to create a model for Newport.  The shelter is open for the coldest months of the year, from November 30th to March 31st.  It is coordinated by Stuart and by Jade Holtham, both of Teen Challenge Newport.  Fourteen local churches and over 300 volunteers are involved.

The guests are provided with a hot meal in the evening and breakfast in the morning.  Each church in the program hosts the shelter once a week for a two-month period; volunteers work in three shifts.  Partnerships have been developed with drug agencies, housing officers, and others, who identify those in need of accommodation and refer them to the shelter.  Requiring a referral for all guests ensures that the background of everyone coming in is known, preventing potential problems. 

The program has been a great success.  Stuart summarizes its impact: "With the night shelter, you're stopping someone from dying on the streets in the coldest winter.  That's what it is – it's life and death."  The statistics tell the same story: over the two-year period before the shelter was started, fourteen people in Newport died of exposure to the cold.  Since the program began, there have been no deaths due to exposure. 

Last year, 121 guests were referred to the shelter; however, they are not the only people who have been helped.  "It has done as much for the churches and the volunteers as it has for the guests," Stuart asserts.  It has enabled congregations that "have been behind closed doors for so long" to get involved in serving the community.  It has also promoted cooperation between churches and given the churches a good reputation in local government.

The program has its challenges.  One of these is enforcing the rules.  Guests must arrive between 7 and 8 pm, or they will not be admitted.  Anyone who creates a disturbance receives a one-night ban.  It is difficult to turn someone away on a cold night, but these rules are necessary to maintain a safe environment for both guests and volunteers. 

Another challenge is that preconceptions about the homeless can be a barrier to people getting involved in the program.  However, once someone takes the initial step of volunteering, this usually changes dramatically.  "It has broken down barriers," Johnson said.  "They've seen that people that are on the streets are no different than people in the churches."   

A similar program has already been established in Bridgend.  Another will be starting this winter in Merthyr Tydfil, and other locations are being explored, as well.  Stuart and Jade help the shelters get started, after which they operate independently.  Stuart believes that their model can be easily replicated in other communities.  While the program may seem daunting at first, the limited period of operation eases the burden on volunteers—a shelter only needs to be open for as little as two months in the winter.  Spreading the work between many churches also makes it more manageable.  Stuart's vision is to see Christian night shelters across Wales, so that the homeless can receive the help they need in their own communities:  "The need exists everywhere; will we obey Christ's command?"

Prayer is the Newport Night Shelter's biggest need, especially when the program is running.  Stuart most of all requests prayer for the guests: that their situations would improve, but also that the program would help them see that God is real.  The shelter always welcomes volunteers in the Newport area, as well as monetary support.  For more information, visit the Newport Night Shelter website or contact Stuart Johnson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .