CORNERSTONE HUMANITARIAN SOCIETY
Homelessness can affect persons of all ages, backgrounds and with varying social problems. Vagrancy and its related anti social behaviour affects us all. Cornerstone Humanitarian Society has undertaken to address the immediate needs of many unfortunate people in the city of Castries, St. Lucia, by providing shelter at Cornerstone House.
Nestling on the Vigie hillside among the tropical trees Cornerstone House is a haven and a place to find loving support for the homeless, dispossessed and abandoned.
Our Mission To create a compassionate environment of short or long-term care. To meet basic needs of homeless people through the provision of shelter, food, clothing and social support in a cost effective way by partnering with social service agencies and the community at large.
Profile Established in November 1998, the Society has undertaken to alleviate the problems of homelessness and vagrancy in the City of Castries by setting up an accessible Night Shelter and Soup Kitchen. This was made possible by the encouragement and support of St. Lucia's Prime Minister The Honourable Dr. Kenny D. Anthony and the Ministers of his Government; who ensured that a vacant government owned house was made available to the Society to convert into a shelter with sleeping accommodations for both men and women. Funding for the conversion was provided entirely by individual suppliers who generously donated materials and expertise. A labourer, bricklayer, carpenter, plumber, and electrician were provided and paid for by the Government's Short Term Employment Programme (STEP).
Beds and bedding were obtained from the USA Army Surplus through the former St. Lucian Ambassador to the United Nations, Mr. George Odlum.
Electrical appliances and gas cooker were donated by the British Government through its High Commission in St. Lucia. A Suzuki Supercarry six seater van was donated by The People's Republic of China through the Ambassador to St. Lucia.
This shelter is supported financially by an annual Government subvention of EC$ 50,000. This is used to pay the salaries of 4 Care Attendants, and some other recurrent expenses. All other help comes from our Covenant Partners.
CORNERSTONE HOUSE Here we provide bathing and laundry facilities, a bed for the night, an evening meal and breakfast each day. Our guests also have the use of a recreation area with television, radio and a library.
With the provision of spiritual, emotional and physical support we hope to inspire and encourage each guest towards regaining a feeling of self-worth and purpose. We also recognize that our guests come to the shelter voluntarily, so they are free to stay or to go as they wish.
Who are they…
the people who come to Cornerstone House?
The men and women who now live at Cornerstone House come from different back grounds. They come to us with varying social problems and range in age from early 20's up to 90 years of age.
Many have been sleeping rough for years, on the streets of Castries, under the market steps, in doorways, in boxes; having opted out of society for their own reasons. Others have lost the ability to work or sustain employment through ill health or addictions. While others have mental or emotional problems that prevent them from holding a job at all. Some come to us needing a place to stay and receive their prescribed medication having been discharged from the Golden Hope Psychiatric Hospital or Turning Point Rehabilitation Centre and find that they have been abandoned or rejected by their families. Still others come on a "drop by" basis to bathe and wash their clothes and receive a meal as they may have a suitable place to sleep but no other facilities. With help, individuals can regain a feeling of self-worth and dignity, some even regain enough confidence to go back successfully into the work place; these will probably leave us to live on their own in rented accommodation. Some of course will leave to return to the street, others will stay and call Cornerstone, home.
A Bed for the Night:
The men's dormitory is full every night and holds 22 beds, although it was originally supposed to hold a maximum of 15. The women's dormitory has 8 beds and 5 are occupied every night. Beds are properly equipped with sheets, pillows and pillowcases, and cotton blankets are provided during the cooler winter weather. Sheets are laundered daily.
General Cleanliness:
A daily bath is a House Rule. No one may sit down to eat the evening meal until he or she has had a bath and put on clean clothes. We have separate showers for men and women and towels and toiletries are supplied to each individual. Towels are laundered daily.
Every resident guest is encouraged to wash their clothes each day. Laundry detergent and bleach are provided.
Guests are also expected to share daily chores and maintain cleanliness throughout the house, by sweeping, mopping and keeping the bathrooms and lavatories clean.
Meals:
Three meals are served each day to anyone who visits or lives at the shelter. Approximately 133 breakfasts per week, consisting of bread with a filling and a cup of tea or coffee; 119 lunches which usually consist of a staple such as rice or macaroni or green bananas with a stew of chicken backs or fish, or a meatless soup made with lentils and vegetables; 147 suppers, here we are helped on a regular basis by Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort who give cooked food from their guest's buffet, this very considerable contribution is collected almost every day of the week, and is greatly enjoyed!
At Christmas and New year we are helped by Service Clubs such as Rotary and Kiwanis and other groups who ensure that our people enjoy the festive season!
The Dining and Recreation Area: Meet Jeffrey Charles who had been living rough nearly all his adult life until he came to Cornerstone House in November 1998
Guests can relax to watch television, read, or play cards, dominoes or checkers together.
or simply experience the peace of Cornerstone's beautiful view.
Covenant Partnership Information
Covenant Partners are company managers in the business sector and members of the general public, who provide annual cash donations or more generally, a regular supply of fresh food, staple food items, cleaning materials and toiletries. These generous individuals undertake a partnership of friendship by agreeing to give specific support for a period of three (3) years. This is renewable. PLEASE CONSIDER BECOMING A COVENANT PARTNER. Every little helps. For as little as EC$ 36.50 per year you can make a difference. There are so many daily needs when providing food, shelter and small comforts to the needy. Contact us and ask for a Covenant Partnership Form. I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for considering supporting our work.
Juliet C. Brathwaite Director Cornerstone House/President Cornerstone Humanitarian Society
Contact Information
Our Board of Directors
Ms. Juliet C. Brathwaite: President/Treasurer
Happy Vale Montessori School 1 758 452 7468
Mr. Desmond Philip: Vice President
Turning Point Centre 1 758 453 1087
Miss Joycelyn Johannes: Secretary
Happy Vale Montessori School 1 758 452 7468
Ms. Karen Louisy: Member
Mrs. Susan Johnson: Member
Mr. Marcus Day: Public Relations & member of Rotary Club St.Lucia
Mr. Fitzsteven Johny: Physical Planning & member of Rotary Club St.Lucia
- Telephone
- 1 758 458 2043
- FAX
- 1 758 452 7468
- Postal address
- P.O.Box GM 583, Castries, St. Lucia, West Indies
- Electronic mail
- General Information: cornerstonehouse@slucia.com
Webmaster: info@cornerstone.interconnection.org
Homelessness or vagrancy is a social condition that only seems to affect other people...
just a thought...
Not a single guest at Cornerstone house ever imagined that it could happen to them...
but it did.
Your help will be appreciated very much...thank you
Guided by the hand of the Master Provider whom I seek to serve in obedience...
"I am my brother's keeper"
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