The Manna Day Centre provides both a compassionate and practical response to London’s poverty and homelessness problems. For some, it’s a place where they can come for their only hot meal of the day. For others, it’s a listening ear and a welcome respite from another day living on the streets. For others still, it’s a chance to get off the street and into accommodation.
The centre welcomes around 150 people every day, more than half of them homeless. We open 7 days a week and serve around 800 meals, 70 mugs of soup and countless cups of tea every week. As well as providing hot food and a place to rest during the day, the Centre also offers showers, clothing, access to medical care and advice on housing and welfare. Helping our clients move on from homelessness with all its concomitant insecurities and into a more settled lifestyle is a key priority for us. In the last 12 months we have found accommodation for over 270 people.
Although our building is given to us rent-free from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Southwark, we are dependent on voluntary donations to raise approx. 85% of our annual £450,000 budget.