Welcome
Arc Light is a charity that provides accommodation and support to homeless men and women in York. We have been operating since 1999 and have just opened a new signature facility, in private grounds close to the city centre, which has 35 bedrooms, meeting and counselling spaces as well as education, health, fitness and community facilities. This welcoming and inspirational space offers our clients not only a place to stay but also the chance to make positive changes in their lives.
Arc Light's strategic aims can be found here
What Arc Light does
Arc Light’s core client group are ex-rough sleepers and those at risk of sleeping rough – the majority of whom have complex issues primarily connected with drug and alcohol misuse and mental ill-health.
Our work is aimed at reconnecting our clients with the opportunities that life offers and encouraging them to embrace and maximise them.
We do this through the provision not only of keyworking support but also a broad range of purposeful activity options, thus preparing them to move on through York’s co-ordinated multi-agency re-settlement network and onto an independent life.
What is it like being homeless?
It is difficult to imagine what it is like to be homeless. We asked a couple of our residents how being homeless has affected them.
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“It's the worst feeling in the world until you put your hand out and say you want some help.”
Steve Spence
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“ I have been homeless for about 10 years, in this time I have lived both in Arc Light and on the streets. When on the streets finding somewhere to sleep, stay dry and store your belongings is extremely difficult. We used to have to hide away in bins etc. but now I feel we are generally more accepted than before.”
Charlie Robinson
Blogs
Our blogs are about life at Arc Light. They are written by residents and the people who work here.
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Our Friend Dave
Dave Robinson, a long time resident of Arc Light, died on Monday 5 April. Well known to the citizens of York his death was widely and sympathetically covered by the local newspaper.
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Arc Light has changed
Arc Light has changed a lot since it first opened and I want to thank Jeremy for everything that he is done. I am looking forward to moving to the new hostel.
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My own space and privacy
I can't wait to have my own space and privacy, I haven't had this for a long time!
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Veg and flower garden
I am looking forward to working on the veg and flower garden.
Support Us
Arc Light are a charity so welcome donations from businesses and members of the public.
- You can help us by making a donation online at justgiving.com/arclight.
- If you don’t want to give online you can also talk to us here
- Businesses who have supported us are listed here
Talk to us
We welcome any questions you may have about Arc Light or homelessness. Please contact us through the form below.
Location Map
The map below shows the location of Arc Light
Support Us » Businesses and Trusts
The following businesses and trusts kindly provide us with support.
Blogs » Our Friend Dave
For David
A few words of remembrance to a friend who will be missed; Dave or as we knew him ‘Tonto.’ How he really got that name none of us are really sure, but knowing David as I did I would like to think it was because of his likeness to the Western Movie Star who was a good friend to his partner The Lone Ranger, and likewise friendly to all he met.
As the days have passed since Dave left us I find myself thinking back to some of the fun times we had; One Saturday morning about 7am I was walking through the city centre when I came upon Dave’s holdall bag which had become a permanent fixture on his shoulder. The bag was on a bin top. I went to pick it up with the aim of returning it to Dave, when two Policewomen attempted to stop me. I protested that it belonged to a good friend and I wanted to return it to him knowing that it held all he possessed. But they informed me that his bag had been dedicated a dangerous package, and as such they were awaiting the bomb squad to turn up and take it away. But no matter how much I remonstrated with them nothing was going to make them let me have it. So I asked them to get in touch with Dave at the Arc Light but they were not very helpful. They were under the notion that the bomb squad were going to take it away and perform a controlled explosion on it. Later on I found Dave to tell him, he was none too pleased I can tell you.
That’s just one of the many funny things which occurred around David, he was always an unending source of fun for us, and spent many a happy time with him. As the weeks go by I find I miss him more, he was kind and generous to all he met, and I know he was held in affection by many other people who stopped to chat to him. He will continue to hold a special place in my heart, and will be sorely missed by his friends.
Steve Spence