CRI wins ‘Best Partnership’ for work with rough sleepers in Brighton
Monday, 09 December, 2013
Sussex Police awarded CRI with ‘Best Partnership’ for their work with the Brighton Housing Trust and Sussex Police in launching the Emergency Assessment Centre (EAC), a pilot programme aimed at helping rough sleepers in Brighton and Hove.
EAC offers an innovative ‘one-stop shop’ approach that allows rough sleepers to access a range of accommodation and health services. It specifically targeting individuals who usually refuse to access support services, such as those with mental health or substance misuse and those who are new to rough sleeping.
EAC provides those in need with access to specialist workers from mental health, medical, substance misuse, accommodation and support teams. It has operated four nights since launching in October and has so far provided housing and medical advice to 53 individuals.
Brighton and Hove historically has a large number of people who sleep rough, which dramatically rose to 43 on a single night in 2012. The EAC was launched following a 2013 research project lead by Brighton and Hove City Council into some of the reasons behind the high figures.
Sarah Mitchell, ISP Cluster Manager at CRI says: “This pilot is a great example of how partnerships can help directly impact individuals. It specifically targets those who otherwise would not access any of these services, and just two months in we have been able to provide 53 people with much-needed advice, shelter and medicine.”
Sussex Police says: “We felt that the award was well-deserved after the successful launch of the project, which has seen service users treble within one month of opening. To achieve these same outcomes without the EAC would take a much longer period of time, whereas the EAC provides an opportunity for all needs to be addressed under one roof. Rough sleepers in Brighton have always been an issue and we are glad that we are able to work with partners to address the needs of these individuals.”
Nikki Homewood, Director of Homelessness and Complex Needs Services, at Brighton Housing Trust says: "The Emergency Assessment Centre shows that getting services working together in one venue, at one time, is highly effective in delivering solutions for long term rough sleepers and is part of our partnership working to reduce rough sleeping in the city, in particular as we approach the winter months."
