Some users of the community fled from abusive relationships

The Deborah Community, based at St Austell, has helped parents who have fled violent relationships and people who have been in prison or homeless.

Its headquarters is being sold by the Methodist Church because it is unsafe.

The church is offering to pay half the rent on any new building, but one has yet to be found.

Forgotten group

For two years, the community, which has helped furnish more than 400 homes, has stored furniture in a former Sunday school building at Mount Charles.

Now the building is to be sold by its owners and the community faces closure.

Dann Miller, and her seven-month-old daughter, Casey, came to Cornwall from Manchester to escape domestic violence.

She said the community has helped rebuild her life: "It stopped me being isolated and helped me to live a life instead of just an existence, because now I know I've got a home for me and my child."

Group supporter John Telling said the work was invaluable: "This group of people is often forgotten about. If we're not here, they'll still be forgotten.

"This community gives them hope."

The community was founded by Angie Taylor and her husband, David. She said they would be devastated if they could not continue.

She said: "I'll be heartbroken. But not for me. It's because we've witnessed first-hand how a little bit of caring like this can change lives."

The church said it was necessary for it to sell the building and it was very sorry that it had to do so.

David and Angie Taylor said they did not blame the church for selling. Their only concern, they said, was to find another building so they can continue helping families in crisis.