Partners in the city’s Make Change Count campaign will be holding a stall at the Clock Tower in Queen’s Road, Brighton on Thursday 12 September to launch this year’s fundraising campaign.
Running since 2016, Make Change Count is the city’s combined fundraising campaign, providing much needed funds to local charities who support and prevent homelessness.
As the national cost of living crisis continues to bite, support for vulnerable rough sleepers remains as vital as ever. People are experiencing greater hardship, especially the most vulnerable in our community.
‘The Homelessness Monitor: England 2023’ study by Crisis shows a 26% increase in rough sleeping in England from November 2022 to November 2023. But rough sleepers represent fewer than 10% of the homeless population. The wider definition of homelessness includes all people in insecure accommodation.
Homelessness overall is predicted to be 20% higher in 2024 than 2020 levels, fuelled by the cost of living crisis, rising private rents (and evictions), and declining social rented lettings.
Make Change Count does 3 things:
The charities Make Change Count supports are BHT Sussex, Change Grow Live, Equinox, Off The Fence, Sussex Nightstop, The Clock Tower Sanctuary, YMCA Brighton and YMCA Downslink Group.
Together, the charities offer a range of support services for young people and adults, providing accommodation, day centres, food, clothing, healthcare, street outreach and personalised support to around 3,500 people a year.
It takes time and compassion to help people adapt to new ways of living – and funds raised by this campaign help to enable this proven approach.
Furthermore, every penny donated to the campaign directly supports work with people in need - no funds raised are used by any of the charities for administration and they all contribute to the campaign at no cost.
This year the campaign is aiming to raise £20,000 to support homeless people in Brighton & Hove.
Councillor Paul Nann, the council’s lead member for homelessness, said: “It is everyone’s right to have somewhere decent to live.
“We are facing a national housing crisis and this has a serious impact in Brighton & Hove.
“The support on offer for people threatened with homelessness in Brighton & Hove is exceptional, and the work of all the charities involved in Make Change Count is a vital part of this support.
“By donating to Make Change Count, you can be sure your generosity is directly helping support people to move away from rough sleeping in Brighton & Hove.”
Hélène Begg, Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Brighton, who are hosting this year’s fundraising page, said: “Make Change Count is a great way to donate to charities supporting homeless people in Brighton & Hove.
“YMCA Brighton has been supporting individuals to remain off the streets for over 150 years.
“May this be for a mobile phone to remain in contact with services, socks and shoes to keep feet dry or covering fees for a course, your donation will enable our dedicated staff to provide personalised one to one support to those who need it the most.
“With your help, we can break the cycle of homelessness.”
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough in Brighton & Hove, contact Streetlink via www.streetlink.org.uk.
The city’s street outreach team will then contact them to try to offer them appropriate support and housing assistance.
It’s important that anyone sleeping rough is offered help as soon as possible and that the assistance offered meets their needs.
Reporting where people are through Streetlink is the best way of making sure that people get the support they need.
