Stonepillow is a homeless charity for the Chichester and Arun Districts, founded in 1989 by the congregation of St Richard’s Catholic Church in Cawley Road, following the death of a young, homeless man in Chichester.
Our story
We don’t turn anyone away
“Stonepillow is a place of inspiration, safety, forward moving positivity and support”
The Reverend Hilary Parsons, who passed away in 2019, wrote, “It was with real sorrow that I got the news one Sunday morning that Scotty – a homeless man of great kindness and human understanding had been found dead.”
“The impression of the general public was that places in the south like Chichester were so well-heeled that real poverty did not exist there and that charitable giving was unnecessary. I knew differently.”
“I said that we must do something practical for the homeless in our own city. I called a meeting, and to my astonishment the room was packed to overflowing. We set up an interim committee that evening.”
More than two decades on, we continue to provide ‘something practical for the homeless’ and so much more. We have built on the original legacy, and evolved it into a five-step pathway to recovery focused on health, housing and work.
Wraparound projects address the myriad of complex issues homeless people present with, and seek to ensure that their lives after Stonepillow will be stable, sustainable and independent.
“It’s 24/7, gives you peace of mind and there’s nothing to hide.”
