A Rastafarian group dedicated to helping the homeless has been given a boost thanks to local dentist Clark Godwin.

Patricia (Sista Pat) Parsons, an organiser for the Rastafarian Community Project, has been feeding the homeless out of her own residence for years.

But the grassroots organisation had no real base until recently -- when Dr.

Godwin agreed to allow the group to temporarily use the building which is slated to become his new dentist office.

Sista Pat, who had been renting the lower apartment of the Parson's Road building, spoke with Dr. Godwin about using the space to help the homeless.

"I asked him if we could use the place for storage until he started to work there, and I told him I didn't have any money.

"He told me the building was vacant and said `it's yours to do what you want until we start construction' -- and I'd truly like to give thanks for that,'' she added.

Sista Pat and the other members of the group converted the building into a shelter which currently houses seven men.

"A group of homeless people lived together in a place called The Hole -- it's a two-storey abandoned building with no windows and no door, and with rats as big as cats.

"We found the most responsible one of the group and put him in charge of the hospice. Who feels it, knows it and we wanted them to start to take pride in themselves, and it works -- they've kept the place clean.

"We do have rules, it's not just an open house -- they have to take a bath at night, and no alcohol is allowed on the premises.

"The young brothers in the neighbourhood pitched in and cleaned the yard, and the Rastafarian community -- give thanks and praises -- has pitched in.

"We are our brothers' keepers... we feel as members of the Rastafarian Community Project that the giving which happens during Christmas should not just be a once a year thing,'' she said.

The Project also sponsors food baskets, a monthly dinner for the homeless and an "Off the Wall'' project geared toward helping youth obtain jobs.

And Sista Pat appealed for assistance from the community in providing the group with a permanent building.

"If we just had a building, we've got the manpower to fix it up and we're prepared to do the work,'' she said.

"If we had a permanent place, we'd be able to run a permanent shelter... there are so many people out there who don't have anywhere to go and it takes so little to extend your hand and help people.'' In the meantime, members of the Rastafarian Community Project are utilising the temporary space by trying to help the men at the shelter get back on their feet by helping them find jobs and providing them with a place to get hot meals and wash and iron their clothes.

"I used to do this from my house and now that we have the hospice, we can do more... the little things we take for granted are, to them, a struggle,'' Sista Pat noted.

"We're Rastafarians -- His Majesty says we're supposed to be responsible for the motherless, the fatherless, tend to the sick and the homeless.

"So we're only doing what's expected of us -- we're only doing Jah's work.'' Anyone able to donate food or offer assistance is asked to contact Ras Dewey Nesbitt at the BIU.