Charity helping homeless people expands services

Paul Joy says The Adam Outreach Project has helped him to turn his life around

A charity that offers help to people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness or substance abuse has expanded its range of services.

The Adam Outreach Project plans to open Harmony House on Kirkley Cliff Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, at the end of June, which will offer accommodation and support for eight people.

It will be the third property the charity has opened in the town since forming in 2006, and it will increase the project's capacity to 31 places and create about six new jobs.

Hope House, which is next door to the new centre, opened in 2008 and Grace House on London Road South was launched in 2023.

The new property will offer accommodation and support to eight people

The Christian-based charity described itself as a drug and alcohol free, therapeutic environment that provides supported accommodation.

Ricky Bolden, the charity's senior manager, said: "What we offer is a pathway to recovery for those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness or substance abuse and we allow them to get back out into the world and restore their lives.

"Occupants can’t use drugs or alcohol on site, and we offer a holistic recovery scheme underpinned by the 12-step programme, which is commonly used for rehabilitation.

"These are exciting times for the charity. Harmony House will be a unique guest house with a lot of extra support, but we are less regimented than a rehabilitation centre."

Ricky Bolden said the Adam Outreach Project offers a holistic recovery scheme for its residents

Paul Joy, 50, who joined the project 13 months ago, said: "I was homeless and I'd lost everything: my home, my job, my car through my addiction and I was lucky enough to be put in contact with Adam Outreach and they've helped me to get back on my feet.

"They've shown me a new path to take and they've given me the tools to take it and I took it and now I'm about to fly the nest.

"I am not a practising Christian myself but they do promote Christian values, although there's no compulsion to be a practising Christian when you come here."

Mr Joy is now moving on from the project and is planning to start a business with his brother. He said the charity has inspired him to take a new direction in his life.

Mr Bolden said: "People come in here with no faith, little faith or big faith but it's all about inclusion. I think the ethos is that people who come here feel like it's a home from home, where they can reboot and recharge and get the support they need."