TEN homeless men are being given food and a place to sleep inside Portsmouth churches for 28 consecutive nights.

Christians from across the city are offering evening meals, bed and breakfast to those who may otherwise be sleeping on the streets. Their Open Church project aims to do something about Portsmouth’s growing homelessness problem and build relationships between churchgoers and the homeless.

Each of the seven churches involved is hosting their guests on a particular day of the week. So St Simon’s Church in Southsea is the venue each Friday night during February.

On the first Friday (Feb 2), guests were served chilli con carne sitting at tables in the church hall. A team of volunteers made and served food, chatted to guests, and played table-tennis, table football, board games and cards with them.

Later, they moved upstairs where camp beds had been made up with sheets and pillows in another hall, which was serving as a makeshift dormitory. And in the morning, guests freshened up before enjoying the breakfast provided.

One guest, called ‘Mac’, explained how he had ended up homeless after a relationship breakdown around Christmas.

“I slept like a baby in the church we were in last night,” he said. “Some of us already knew each other, but we’re gradually getting to know each other better.”

Volunteer Martin Cook, who goes to St Simon’s Church, was among the team staying at church overnight. He said: “When I first heard about the idea, I wondered if we might have trouble. But when I walked in tonight, I could see it was all calm and relaxed. It’s a brilliant idea and very rewarding. I’m glad I’m part of it.”