Hopes for new homelessness service in Horsham ahead of expected rise in rough sleeping
West Sussex homelessness charity, Turning Tides, has seen demand for their help double in the last year
A West Sussex charity is hoping to raise more than £200K for a new homelessness support service in Horsham.
Turning Tides has secured permission to renovate a disused building at Roffey Place, which would accommodate up to 50 people at a time.
The service will also provide a range of activities to support their wellbeing at a time when many are at risk of losing their homes.
The charity’s Chief Executive, John Holmstrom, said: “We're opening this project in the north of Horsham because in the West Sussex area, and particularly in rural areas, there's a huge amount of unmet need.
“The number of people who have actually approached our services in the last six months has nearly doubled and our councils are just overflowing with single people in temporary accommodation which is often inadequate.”
The cost-of-living crisis is proving problematic for many households and homelessness is expected to rise significantly as a result.
John added: “Rents are still going up in the private rental sector, but housing benefit won't meet those costs.
“We will find more people getting into debt and struggling, so it’s only going to get worse, and then there isn't a big house building program.
“My worry of course, with public expenditure, is whether more affordable housing will be created. That's why we need to inject more accommodation at a time of a housing crisis.”
The charity is now appealing for public support to get the service opened by mid-December – just in time for winter – and a further £100K has already been promised by Horsham District Council.