Brighton and Hove has faced a severe homelessness and rough sleeping problem for decades, one of the worst in the country.
The city has managed the issue at great economic and human cost, to the point where homelessness has sadly become something we’re known for.
Many books on homelessness inevitably feature stories or chapters on Brighton and Hove.
When the administration transitioned from committee to cabinet, I was asked to assist with a specific project: facilitating and influencing the creation of an “integrated homelessness hub” for the city.
While the idea of such a hub has existed in various forms for over 30 years, we have never fully committed to bringing it to life.
I believe that our well-developed services have allowed us to manage the problem but managing is no longer enough. It’s time for a new approach.
Other cities have already created similar hubs and seen significant improvements in homelessness rates and outcomes.
A homelessness hub would centralise essential services, making them more accessible to those in need.
Arch Healthcare, one of the driving forces behind the project, has highlighted how people experiencing homelessness often walk miles between services, waiting hours for appointments, only to give up out of frustration.
By creating an integrated hub, not just for healthcare but also for other essential services, we can amplify the impact of these services, save money and provide a seamless experience for users.
Over the past two months, consultations led by Justlife have gathered overwhelming positive feedback from service providers, with strong ideas emerging.
Common Ambition and the Clock Tower Sanctuary have ensured that people with lived experience are heard.
Several potential locations for the hub are under consideration and a local resident has expressed interest in developing at least a healthcare hub.
I believe that we are closer than ever to realizing this long-standing ambition. Other cities have successfully implemented hubs and seen the benefits.
Now is the time for Brighton and Hove to stop managing our homelessness problem, as skilled as we are at doing that, and start addressing it in a meaningful way.
These other cities have benefited from an idea that originated in Brighton and Hove and it’s time we did as well.
Councillor Paul Nann is a member of Brighton and Hove City Council and is the cabinet adviser on the homeless hub.
Good idea. Hope it comes to pass.
Very positive to read this. Just need to reform the council frontline to incorporate the recovered with lived and living experience and we will see a much compassionate, proactive and empathetic service, but need money from Labour to build the social housing this city needs to be a fair place to live for all.
Including key workers on low incomes homelessness is complicated but a compassionate workforce its proven the organisations with lived experience at the heart are already smashing it, as evidenced in this article. Lets get that internal reform also, as it will also motivate staff and empower as the service transactions from gatekeeping and keeping people in the system and more miserable to resolving issues, getting people happier and providing genuine pathways to declog the system.
Good idea but make sure the council uses its brain and moves it somewhere where all these people gathering does not wreck the tourism economy and make the lives of normal residents a misery. Walking through western road in the early evening on every street corner there were druggies lying around everywhere and visible dealing with rough sleepers. The rights of a few should not be allowed to ruin the lives and livelihoods of many.
MOST OF BRIGHTON AND HOVE HOMELESS BEGGARS ARE FROM OTHER PLACES THEY COME HERE BECAUSE IT’S RICH PICKINGS FROM GULLIBLE TOURISTS LIKE THE OLD ROMANIAN WOMAN WITH HER COLLECTION CUP OUTSIDE BURGER KING , NORTH STREET AND HER YOUNGER COMPATRIOTS OUTSIDE METRO BANK JUST UP THE ROAD AND NATIONWIDE WEST STREET THEY HAVE ALSO BEEN SPOTTED OUTSIDE ALDI , LONDON ROAD AND THE COOP , LONDON ROAD FLEECING PEOPLE AND DOING THE INDIGENOUS PONCERS FROM UP NORTH OUT OF BEER AND DRUG MONEY
From what I hear down the grapevine, there is plenty of concern when it comes to the kind of profit-generating companies running aspects like supported and emergency accomodations for a premium fee, and minimum service.
At £350 per week, plus a service charge, plus the annual commission; it is very lucrative. But, with a clear conflict of interest; encouraging long-term residency rather than skilling up and moving on to independent living, there’s several questions to ask:
1) Is the council getting value for money?
2) Are residents being looked after to the standard befitting a commissioned service?
3) Are these spaces safe and free from exploitation?
Conversations I’ve had would suggest there is a need for a deep dive, so I’m pleased that the councillor is doing this work. It’s important.
We have one!? the amazing First Base day Centre
And they are great; the idea is to be even more comprehensive than that. Including your healthcare, social, vocational, advice and support services all into one centralised space, rather than dotted around to enable synergetic working.
Until the Govenment, Police, Courts, Council and society as a whole get to grips with the rampant drug problem in this city and country it’s all expensive hot air. The ‘long term street community’ doesn’t give a fig as long as they score their next fix.
Or bring back the workhouse !