Our Companions
The men and women who live and work in Emmaus Communities are known as Companions. The name 'compagnon' was chosen when the first Communities were founded in France; it is derived from Latin and originally meant those who ate bread together. Sharing meals is still an important part of Community life.
There is no limit to how long people stay in the Community - it can be anything from a couple of weeks to several years. Companions can stay for as long as they need. For some, Emmaus will fill a short term need, for example to recover from addiction, to regain their self-esteem, or to gain new skills. These people may move on to other accommodation and jobs. Others will stay in Emmaus for a longer time - for some it may even be a permanent home.
Many Emmaus Companions have been living on the streets and sleeping rough. They come from many different backgrounds and have become homeless for a variety of reasons - relationship breakdown, job loss or bereavement have often played a significant part. Many struggle with alcohol and drug dependency. Those coming to Emmaus must be prepared to work and to sign off Job Seekers Allowance. Those addicted to alcohol or drugs must want to overcome this, as no alcohol or drugs are allowed in the Community. Many Companions find the security and support they need to face up to these problems within a Community environment.
Read the story of two of our Companions, Bob and Emma, as well as Sean’s story, who joined us as a Companion but is now a member of staff at the Community:
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