Hope into Action.

What’s it all about?

Hope into Action feature quite regularly on Network Peterborough so we thought it would be good to dig a little deeper and look at the work they do and how it goes beyond statistics and helps real people.

As the winter months set in homelessness can be a life or death situation. Most of us cannot bear the freezing weather and can feel put out by having to scrape frost from our car window or having to drive in challenging road conditions, but imagine trying to get warm or get hot food and comfort when you are living on the streets.

Hope into Action was begun by people who believe in the local church as an untapped resource to holistically mentor people in vulnerable situations. They seek to address problems generated by homelessness through the provision of houses specifically set aside in Peterborough and Cambridge to provide shelter for homeless individuals. The real benefits of the project go beyond providing a roof over someone’s head, but also by working closely with local churches where support is provided in all aspects of life. Local church congregations put in time, effort and allot of prayer to helping individuals gain purpose and hope as well as life skills for a brighter future.

Here are a few short stories from some of those who have directly benefited from the support of Hope into Action and local churches:

Bob had spent his entire childhood in care. He is completely illiterate and lacking a conventional education, his adult life has been a continuous cycle of crime and imprisonment. After the shocking murder of his partner, Bob turned to heroin and spent the last freezing winter on the streets. Hope into Action successfully provided a home for Bob, he is now free from heroin addiction and he is working together with Hope into Action and the local church who have provided holistic care. Bob now attends this Church and is breaking the cycles of life that dominated his past. 

John was unsurprisingly in a state of despair after eight years of hostel life. The use of methadone kept him off heroin but his cannabis habit made him paranoid and depressed. Through Hope into Action and support from a local church John has given up cannabis and been able to reduce his methadone. With help he has found employment through a church member at a local bike shop and is also a fully trained street pastor: John says ‘’Helping others helps me’’, which demonstrates one of the knock on benefits that helping one individual can have. (You don’t make knock on benefits, you have them).

Jane is an ex heroin addict and ex-offender. She came to Hope into Action when she was 7 months pregnant; she had nowhere to stay and went on to have the baby while her partner was in prison. Jane’s local church is supporting Jane and her child both practically and emotionally, seeking to change the situation and ensure a positive future for the family. 

Barry was introduced to Hope into Action while still inside HMP Peterborough. He had nowhere to live once he was released. Hope into Action met him at the prison gate on his release and gave him a home with a Christian in the city. Barry stayed in that house for 2 months. During that time he wandered into his local church cafe and there was met and ministered to by some people from the congregation. Barry kept coming back to church, however after a while he returned to prison because he was keeping money he was meant to be collecting for a charity. Hope into Action is working with the pastor of the church and are seeking to arrange a visit for the pastor to meet with Barry to maintain a positive input into his life.

Please pray for the vital work carried out by Hope into Action and, if this project strikes a chord with you then you can get involved and help make a real difference to others that are in need. For more information – including the facts and figures from Hope into Action click here...

For another article click here.