Harbour Housing Celebrates St Piran’s Day While Raising Awareness of Homelessness

A Cornish charity is marking St Piran’s Day with a mix of tradition and a clear message about homelessness in the county.

Harbour Housing, which supports people facing homelessness and complex needs, is celebrating the 5th March with pasties and saffron buns while raising awareness of the challenges many people in Cornwall continue to face.

📷Malcolm Putko, Group Operations Director, Harbour Housing.

Heritage and Hospitality

Helen Keast, one of Harbour’s Counsellors and a fourth-generation Cornishwoman, will be supporting the baking of traditional Cornish pasties and sharing saffron buns as part of the celebration.

Around 1,700 people in Cornwall are currently without a permanent home. The majority are living in temporary accommodation, with more than 50 estimated to be sleeping rough. Hundreds of children are among those affected.

Helen said: “As a fifth-generation Cornishwoman, I’m proud of our traditions. St Piran’s story is about discovering value where others might not see it and that’s what we do every day at Harbour.”

📷Left to Right – Kim Vercoe, Activities Coordinator, Harbour Housing; Helen Keast, Wellbeing Navigator, Harbour Housing; Malcolm Putko, Group Operations Director, Harbour Housing; Amy Putko, Volunteer, Harbour Housing; Simon, Harbour Housing.

St Piran’s Story and Today’s Challenge

St Piran, Cornwall’s patron saint, is widely recognised as a symbol of resilience and hidden worth. For Harbour Housing, that message reflects the work they carry out daily with people rebuilding stability and independence.

The pasty and saffron bun represent community and care, qualities the charity says it sees every day in those it supports.

This St Piran’s Day, Harbour Housing is celebrating Cornwall’s heritage while highlighting the compassion helping to end homelessness across the county.

📷Left to Right – Kim Vercoe, Activities Coordinator, Harbour Housing; Amy Putko, Volunteer, Harbour Housing.