A safe place for people sleeping rough in Southend

Aim

To provide a safe, warm space for people forced to sleep rough in Southend, and to keep our doors open for everyone who needs our support.

Who are we?

HARP is a leading UK homelessness charity based in Southend-on-Sea. We empower people to move away from rough sleeping for good.

We believe that no one should be forced to sleep on the streets, and that everyone deserves a safe, warm place to call home.

Working with people who have no choice but to rough sleep is challenging, but our model, centred around services provided at the Bradbury Day Centre, provides a proven springboard to overcome homelessness.

In the last year, the Bradbury Centre had around 10,000 visits from around 1,050 people in need - and, with the ongoing cost of living crisis, low wages, high inflation, inadequate benefits and a chronic lack of affordable housing, demand is only set to increase.

Initially, our Outreach Team engage with people sleeping rough in the community, actively attending locations where people are known to be bedding down, to build relationships and rapport, encouraging them to attend our Bradbury Day Centre.

However, with costs rising, we face an uphill struggle to be there for everyone who needs us.

The money raised through this Warm Spaces Appeal will be used to meet rising overheads, so that we are able to continue to provide this essential, life-changing warm space for people affected by homelessness through 2023 and beyond.

Jack, former HARP client

Community impact

The Bradbury Day Centre is an open, warm space available to people currently sleeping rough 365 days of the year. At the Bradbury Day Centre, our team of compassionate staff and volunteers provide essential services including a cooked breakfast every day of the week, clothing, washing facilities, and, crucially, emotional and practical support to help people move away from rough sleeping for good. 

Once people are using the services at our Day Centre, the real work towards accessing accommodation and moving away from life on the streets can begin.

Joinah, former HARP client

How we’ll spend the money raised

The cost-of-living crisis has hit homelessness organisations, and rising costs mean risks to services like ours. From March 2022 through to February 2023 our costs for gas and electricity was £25,000. 

All money raised through this appeal, including match funding from Co-op, will be spent on Bradbury Centre overheads, ensuring that we can continue to provide a safe, warm space for people forced in to sleeping rough in Southend through 2023 and beyond. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made