Two local charities, BHT Sussex and Off The Fence, have been awarded government funding to help tackle homelessness in Brighton and Hove
The money comes from the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
It will support a partnership between Antifreeze Day Centre and First Base Day Centre, enabling both organisations to enhance the support available to those who are homeless in Brighton and Hove.
The funding will increase the capacity of both organisations to respond to rising demand for their services and enable them to share expertise, learning and best practice across their teams.
They will also be able to provide additional dedicated casework support for clients with complex needs.
They said that it would help them to provide “more joined-up support” and to reduce barriers and improve outcomes for who were experiencing homeless.
BHT Sussex director of support and advice services, Nikki Homewood, said: “This funding is a significant boost for our work at First Base and for our partnership with Off The Fence.
“It will allow us to provide more intensive support to people facing homelessness, helping them navigate complex challenges and take meaningful steps towards stable housing and improved wellbeing.
“By working closely together and sharing expertise, we can reach more people, improve outcomes and ensure that those experiencing homelessness receive the co-ordinated support they need to rebuild their lives.”
Off The Fence said: “We are delighted to have been awarded funding through the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund, administered by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
“This investment will strengthen support for people experiencing homelessness across Brighton and Hove by expanding the capacity of both day centres, enabling enhanced casework, improved understanding of emerging needs and more sustainable pathways out of vulnerability.
“By combining Off The Fence’s and BHT Sussex’s expertise in partnership, we will deliver co-ordinated support that maximises long-term impact and city-wide change.”
From my perspective as a rough sleeper. All this money will go to lining the pockets of some extremely unscrupulous organisations in Brighton who are part of the “Homeless Industry”
I have no argument with BHT/Firstbase getting additional funding.
However,
Off The Fence is no longer fit for purpose. I know that it’s a Christian charity whose aims and aspirations were once very laudable. Over more recent years it has become a massively evangelising organisation that operates a two tier system when dealing with rough sleepers and vulnerably housed. If you are perceived to be a Christian or just pay the lip service game, you will get decent and high quality clothing and equipment. But if you are non-religious you will not.
I’ve witnessed staff giving clothing and equipment to individuals who are either housed or rough sleeping who play the lip service game. Above those who may not be religious and in genuine need!!
Off the Fence are now part of this wretched industry. As a former trustee that worked for a charity in Kent, they are clearly breaching their charitable status by discriminating against people that are not of faith and need to realise this? I would also say that like a lot of these organisations in Brighton that purport to help the homeless, they are a business that is masquerading as a charity for tax breaks.
BHT SUSSEX Dont look after their tenants and property. Always looking to evict at the slightest when section 21 around.
I can think of two organisations that should benefit Mr Burnham’s Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund?
Southdown Housing Association’s Well-being Hub. This is an essential resource for homeless people that has recently had to massively cut back its opening hours due to lack of funding and to my knowledge is only open on one day during the week now. The wellbeing hub did take up the slack from a hideously dysfunctional Homeless Mental Team, that from my experience do very little to help the homeless apart from referring people to other agencies because of their lack of professional curiosity and laziness. I myself was referred to them at one stage. Only to be told that they couldn’t help me and they would refer me back to either my GP or would you believe it, the charity Off The Fence. Who in no way are a mental health resource or have qualified practitioners!! People have the right to decent mental health care even if they’re homeless.
The other organisation that does Stirling work amongst people that end up in either emergency or temporary accommodation (Your still classed as homeless) is Just Life. They would probably benefit from this largesse.