Last autumn it was reported that Brighton & Hove City Council faced more than double the usual level of requests for support with housing because of cost of living challenges and people accessing temporary accommodation are at record levels. Justlife Foundation provides a service to support these people throughout their journey into and out of temporary accommodation.
Stepping into their new offices and hub, Hannah Clay our Head of Grant Programmes, along with one of our longstanding supporters, Claire Cullum, were warmly greeted by the organisation's CEO, Simon Gale and Fran Anderson, their Head of Income and Development. Having previously had limited office space in the city and renting rooms for their client-facing work, the new hub on London Road provides a flexible space for Justlife and the network of homelessness organisations across the city.
Some of the most notable features are the addition of an accessible toilet, a stair lift, easy-opening doors and a ramp to the entrance. These amenities are crucial to ensure people with disabilities can access the services provided by the charity. Research carried out by Justlife showed people in temporary accommodation were more likely than the general population to have a disability and many struggle to access other services or community activities as they cannot physically access the spaces. Our recently published Tackling Poverty report supported this, finding approximately 52.1% of all homeless households have severe physical or mental health needs.
“During our visit, we had the opportunity to meet with staff from across the organisation and hear about their work. Their sense of optimism and energy was infectious. I know I won’t be alone in seeing the building as a manifestation of the hope and dignity that people in temporary accommodation greatly deserve in their move towards finding a more secure place to call home.”
Justlife also recently introduced a new staff role to help collaborate with other services in the city, such as housing, benefits, and substance misuse services along with charities such as debt advice and food banks. The aim is to create a one-stop-shop model within the new building to provide more joined-up support to people experiencing homelessness.
Staff and Justlife clients are delighted with their new bright and beautifully decorated space, a welcome contrast to the cold streets of February. The building will also be available to hire bringing in much-needed revenue for the organisation.
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