Worthing Churches Homeless Project (WCHP) are very grateful to Allchurches Trust for providing £4,000 towards the development of their new service in Lyndhurst Road. The Trust supports churches, charities and communities with projects that help individuals achieve their full potential. Never more so is this true of WCHP’s innovative project at Lyndhurst Road.
A property gifted to WCHP for 5 years by Roffey Homes which offers homes to 40 men and women in Worthing who have previously been homeless. Lyndhurst Road was an immense undertaking for WCHP. Roffey Homes undertook all set up work at cost, however the funds still needed to be found by WCHP. WCHP also needed to recruit a complete staff team and volunteers to offer round the clock support.
The social need for housing in Worthing is very apparent to WCHP, who regularly see an increasing number of people come to St Clare’s Community Hub looking for support and emergency accommodation. In November, the latest rough sleeper count for Worthing was 35 people – a massive 46% increase. It has to be remembered this is just the rough sleepers, this does not include other homeless men and women who may live in cars, squats and other unsuitable accommodation.
The Lyndhurst Road project demonstrates what a community working together can achieve. The council, Change Grow Live, police, local mental health services and other agencies are all working closely together with WCHP staff and volunteers to
provide wraparound support for the residents there. WCHP are already seeing the positive outcomes from those entering the project. One resident said the project had helped them get through tough times and they are now positive and motivated towards their future.
The funding provided by Allchurches Trust, alongside the overwhelming support and commitment from volunteers, local businesses, Roffey Homes and Adur and Worthing Council has helped to establish a home for vulnerable people who were desperately in need of emergency housing.
For more information about the full range of projects WCHP operate to support homeless men and women in our community, please visit their website: www.wchp.org.uk
