To mark World Homeless Day, Sanctuary Trust's Tim Ringsdore says he will sleep rough for a week to raise money and awareness about the realities of homelessness.

Mr Ringsdore, Chair of a Jersey charity that provides accommodation and support to men in crisis, says he has set himself a personal challenge to 'experience life without a home' for a week in March 2025.

His pledge coincides with the release of new figures showing that 180 people were recorded as living in Jersey's shelters this spring.

Organisations that support the homeless have provided numbers to to Housing Minister what the government says is the first 'reliable data on the nature and scale of homelessness in Jersey'.

FREEDA (Women's Refuge), Sanctuary Trust, Shelter Trust and the government's own Housing Advice Service have all contributed data.

The report shows 204 people visited homelessness services between April and June, with the majority having 'Entitled' (long-term residency) status. 

75% were men.

The most common reasons for homelessness are listed as substance use, domestic abuse, mental health problems and lack of affordable accommodation. Other reasons include breakdown of relationships, physical disability/ill-health and family breakdowns.

For homeless women specifically the most common reasons are domestic abuse and relationship breakdown due to abusive behaviour. These alone make up 59% combined.

There were 220 service visitors between April and June.  Of those,180 people are classed as being ‘houseless’ under the homelessness definition framework. This also includes those in insecure, or roofless housing.

50% of Sanctuary Trust's residents were in either part-time or full-time employment.

Housing Minister Deputy Sam Mézec says data from this and future reports will be used to develop services and housing options for islanders who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

"I am deeply grateful to the agencies who have taken time to work with my team to provide data, which allow us all to develop a broader, richer, deeper understanding of this issue so that informed and useful policy can be created to tackle the issues surrounding homelessness. It is however, always important to remember that behind the statistics, there are many individual stories, and we must always remember the very human nature of this issue.” 

Every November, Sanctuary Trust  holds a 'Sleeo Out', inviting islanders to spend a night in Pier Road car park to raise money for its work with those who are homeless.

Chair Tim Ringsdore hopes the additional week-long challenge his is announcing provide a further means of highlighting what it's like to be without a permanent place to live.

 Participants in previous Sanctuary Trust 'Sleep Out' 

Tim told Channel 103: "I was looking for something to raise more awareness, so we asked the residents what I can do to promote World Homeless Day. They came up with the idea of me sleeping rough for a week and living on social security

"It's an opportunity to raise awareness on the challenges that our most vulnerable face."

In 2023, Tim slept rough for one night every month in each of the island's 12 parishes.

Read: Charity trustee set to sleep rough for 12 Days

The time, Tim will sleep outside for a week whilst carrying out his usual day-to-day activities and responsibilities. These include his job and visiting Sanctuary House for meals and a cup of tea, just as other men that Sanctuary support do. He will also live on a budget equivalent to receiving income support.

"Our costs continue to rise. It's critical that we get as much money as we can so we can continue to provide our support.

"We still find that we have a waiting list. We provide support in the houses and externally in our outreach programme.

"Our team really does save lives."

Tim will document his challenge and hopes to raise funds and awareness about the realities of homelessness.