Following some sad events surrounding rough sleepers in Folkestone earlier in 2009, Lynne Beaumont (a Distict and Town Councillor) gathered some people together to discuss what provision could be made to aid homeless people for the following winter. The Shepway Homelessness Forum was developed with the idea of exploring ways of improving services. The forum was comprised of members from local organisations with experience of working with homelessness, including the Salvation Army, Shepway District Council Housing Department, Porchlight (the Kent homelessness charity), Folkestone Rainbow Centre (a local ecumenical charity), Stonham and other agencies. A vision developed for improving services for local homeless people in time for the next cold period. The idea of a winter shelter was raised and a seperate group developed this.

Momentum increased in September when Shepway District Council and Salvation Army released funds to start detailed planning of the coming operations. Following the appointment of two project workers with experience of planning and running homelessness services, events speeded up even more.

Using input and experience from Shepway Homelessness Forum members, the winter shelter took shape. The aim was to provide holistic care which would take the form of not just being a bed for the night but a positive experience, which would facilitate service users accessing partnership agency services.

Following the incredible success of the venture in 2009-2010, where a need was evident and the ability to provide for that need clearly demonstrated, it has been decided to relaunch the Winter Shelter. This time the lead organisation will be the Folkestone Rainbow Centre, an ecumenical charity that has 25 years of experience catering for the lonely, the isolated, the socially excluded and the homeless in a variety of ways.