A HOMELESS couple have been overwhelmed with the support given by the Launceston community — and now have a flat to live in long-term.

They received support after sleeping at St Mary’s Church. Among those to help them were Jay Haxby and his wife Kirstie, who moved to Launceston from Nottingham in November.

Jay and Kirstie had been volunteering with St Luke’s charity shop, and handing out food and clothes to the homeless, when they heard about the homeless couple.

A few weeks later the couple returned to the church, after a spell in intensive care with pneumonia. It was then that Jay met them.

He said: “They were very anxious. We managed to get through to them and they decided they didn’t want to be on the streets. They were two clearly vulnerable people.

“We as a community all got together to try and sort something out.”

Jay said they built up enough trust with the couple to understand their situation, and others who helped support them included Laura Braithwaite and Andrew Budge from Launceston, whose help Jay described as ‘brilliant’, and parish curate, the Rev Teresa Folland, who got the couple Foodbank vouchers.

Jay explained that the church covered up their belongings when the couple had to go to hospital, adding: “Their stuff was covered up and respected. It meant so much to them. They are just so grateful to everybody.”

Local businesses have also lent their support, with thanks expressed to Mia and Julie at Kernow Hair and Beauty for offering free cuts and shaves.

Edwin Daniel gave the couple a two-bedroom flat to live in on the outskirts of Launceston, which they moved into a couple of weeks ago. This gesture left them ‘overwhelmed’.

They had been told they would need to leave the church by February 8 to allow workmen to go in, and thanks to the support of Mr Daniel and the community, were in the flat with 24 hours to spare.

Jay added: “The whole community came together and kitted the place out for them. Last night I went round there, she invited me in for a cup of tea, just as you would.

“We always use the term they are not homeless, they are our friends.

“She had had a hot bath and read a book — as she called herself, she looked like part of society again.

“She said there is a wall and window between the outside world and she hasn’t had that for so long.

“She just said to thank everybody. Without the love and support they got, they don’t know if they would have been able to carry on.”

Jay admitted he was surprised that the community he moved to only a couple of months ago could be so supportive: “Launceston is such a little town and absolutely everybody pulled together and got them what they need. It’s incredible for a little town.

“The community’s been amazing. Being from Nottingham, you don’t get this sort of community where I’m from. The support will be there for however long they need it.

“It’s just the human thing to do. We always say we are one paycheck away from it ourself. I just want to stress it wasn’t just us — it was the whole community.”