Voluntary and Community Sector Homeless and Rough Sleepers Audit |
Introduction
The Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) has a long history of providing vital services for people who are homeless or rough sleeping in the city, both in a commissioned and non-commissioned capacity, from voluntary organisations, charities, community groups and volunteers. Currently, there is a lack of cohesive understanding of what is being offered by the VCS and the overall impact of this work.
Aims of the project
Aims of the project
Through this survey our aim is to build a thorough and clear picture of the contribution that the VCS makes to supporting people who experience homelessness in Brighton and Hove.
Ultimately, this piece of work is to improve outcomes for people experiencing Homelessness or Rough Sleeping*. We want to improve understanding of the significant contribution of the VCS and provide opportunities for a better system response in Brighton and Hove, including improving partnership conversations, funding opportunities and support that is offered to groups and organisations.
This survey is a combined project between Community Works, Justlife and the Brighton and Hove Frontline Network and YMCA DownsLink Group.
*For the reasons of this survey, we will be using the following definition of homelessness taken from Brighton and Hove City Council draft 2020-2025 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy:
“Homelessness means that someone has no home in the UK or anywhere else in the world, that is available and reasonable for them to live in.
Examples of homelessness:
Ultimately, this piece of work is to improve outcomes for people experiencing Homelessness or Rough Sleeping*. We want to improve understanding of the significant contribution of the VCS and provide opportunities for a better system response in Brighton and Hove, including improving partnership conversations, funding opportunities and support that is offered to groups and organisations.
This survey is a combined project between Community Works, Justlife and the Brighton and Hove Frontline Network and YMCA DownsLink Group.
*For the reasons of this survey, we will be using the following definition of homelessness taken from Brighton and Hove City Council draft 2020-2025 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy:
“Homelessness means that someone has no home in the UK or anywhere else in the world, that is available and reasonable for them to live in.
Examples of homelessness:
- rooflessness - sleeping rough
- houselessness - with a place to sleep but temporary, or a shelter
- living in insecure housing - threatened with eviction, domestic violence, or staying with family and friends known as ‘sofa surfing’
- living in inadequate housing - in caravans on illegal campsites, in unfit housing, extreme overcrowding”
Plus, a wider definition to include those who may be in one of those examples above, but have abandoned accommodation they are legally entitled to remain in, for reasons such as poor mental health or where they feel unable to stay with an ex-partner for example.
These definitions include anyone age 16 or above and family units.
These definitions include anyone age 16 or above and family units.