Background to Hope4

History of Hope4

A focus group, Rugby & District Churches Focus Group on Homelessness, was started by members of local churches who were concerned about the the homelessness problem in Rugby. This group was also known as Hope4U.  As it developed it became registered as a charity and the name became shortened to Hope4.

The charity members started working with the Rugby Borough Council and national charities for the homeless to improve the situation in Rugby, and also started fund-raising for a Day Centre for homeless and badly housed people.

At the same time, people involved in Hope4 decided to open a venue providing free hot food and drink for homeless people, called Hope4U, for a short period over Christmas in 2005 in the Rugby Crackerteria cafe. This was so clearly needed that they decided to keep running three times a week in the Rugby town centre and moved to at St. Andrew's church. Since then Hope4U was been extended to include a monthly Saturday morning drop-in providing breakfast, showers and a packed lunch at the Salvation Army Hall. However, the Salvation Army now run this as a separate venture, with Hope4's support and involvement.

In autumn 2009 a possible site for a Day Centre was found and Hope4 started renting the building and converting it.  The new Day Centre opened in February 2010 for three sessions a week, with a part-time support worker.