Ernie Hasler

Male 80 years of age now house bound, worked full time, 51 years, mostly as an engineer then as a health and safety advisor. I have published a few books at great cost since retiring
Ernie Hasler: Founder member of Emmaus Glasgow.

In 1997, I read in my church magazine “The Plain Truth”, about Emmaus Cambridge, a community of previously homeless people.

I phoned them and they gave me the phone number of a Glasgow based individual who was also interested.

Initially, four of us held a meeting showing a video featuring three Companions, and as a result we decided to bring Emmaus to Glasgow.

Father John Lyons, a Glasgow Priest, gifted us an established charity shop which provided essential cash flow.

After many setbacks caused by gazumping and high staff turnover, we purchased and converted a building capable of accommodating 27 previously homeless people with their own flat and full on-suite toilet and shower facilities. 

After a very slow, loss making start up and a high turnover of staff, we slowly increased numbers and presently support an average of 22 Companions. 

(Most Emmaus communities have learned not to rely on a single super manager, but on shared responsibilities within clear Emmaus Policies and Procedures). It is easy for slack leadership to be subverted, and the ethos of constant community improvement diverted to individual benefits. (favouritism). 

We progressively lost the original board members, except for me, but attracted other good volunteer trustees by word of mouth, most were remarkable people, willing to give their wide-ranging advice free of charge while maintaining the ethos of Emmaus.

(Emmaus Ethos is different, because it provides a home for as long as someone needs it and is willing to fit in with simple rules and relationships, in the Emmaus community.

This gives people the opportunity to take stock of their lives, deal with any issues they might have, and often re-establish relationships with loved ones.

There have been many successes with some Companions moving on to good qualifications, jobs, partners, and supporting children).

Yes, Emmaus is a challenging place, requiring constant improvement. Even those who do not stay long, may have been able to use the short period of security and stability to change course for new destinations. 

The house clearance business is very subject to cost-of-living pressures, with less quality household items presently being donated. Although there is still scope for repair and upcycling adding value. Some Companions have shown talents in this area. 

During my 24 four years on the Emmaus Glasgow board of trustees, I attended many of the annual Emmaus Assemblies and I was much inspired by the leadership of Terry Waite.

I had to drop off the board a couple of years ago when I suffered a short blackout, I crashed my car on to a rocky shore of a sea loch, making me house bound ever since. I cut up my driving licence to prevent being tempted at 80 years of age, to drive again.

I am now training to try to do Emmaus UK’s “Big Marathon Challenge 2023” walking with my rollator, a marathon during the month of May. Roughly a mile a day.

I have just started and can manage a couple to three hundred yards a day.

I Hope to raise £100 for Emmaus UK, not a lot, but requiring a big effort for a whole month. 

I think the Emmaus community is an example of applied Doughnut Economics.