On Tuesday 21st January, we hosted a Housing First Workshop, in what will hopefully prove to be an important first step in establishing a high-fidelity Housing First service model in Southend-on-Sea. Housing First is a homelessness solution that differs from traditional service models by making an unconditional offer of a tenancy away from traditional shelters or multi-occupancy houses, and by providing intense and unconditional support for as long as the service user needs i

We have released our figures for 2019, showing that large numbers of local people continue to be caught up in the housing crisis. Last year, we worked with a total of 1,232 people who were homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, providing specialist advice and support. Of these, 558 were using HARP’s services for the first time, with 216 of these new people sleeping rough, 213 sofa surfing or of no fixed abode, and 122 at risk of losing their accommodation and needing help

The Southend Churches Winter Night Shelters have helped 66 local people off the streets in the first four weeks of operation, with each guest staying at a shelter for between one and 20 nights. Four of those guests have since moved into HARP accommodation, beginning their journey to overcome homelessness for goo The figures have been revealed as the Shelters announce that an additional church is stepping in to fill the gap on Tuesday nights, meaning that there will be a full