The Harrogate Homeless Project (HHP) charity is enjoying some seasonal cheer after being awarded £20K funding.
The funding from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire (OPCC) will help the Homeless Project’s work with rough sleepers in the town.
The charity helps around 250 homeless people every year and this grant money will go specifically to the charity’s No Second Night Out project – which aims to offer people sleeping rough a warm bed and a route back into affordable housing without them having to live for a prolonged period on the streets beforehand.
The HHP operates in three core areas:
- No Second Night Out – Help to rough sleepers within the Harrogate district ensuring that anybody sleeping rough can be helped immediately off the streets.
- Day Centre (Springboard) – Springboard offers hot and cold food and refreshments, a laundry service and also has shower facilities. Help and advice regarding homelessness issues and work with other agencies for specialist advice.
- The Hostel – The hostel Bower Street provides 24 hour support to 16 residents, each having access to their own furnished single bedroom, a shared modern kitchen, shared lounge, shared toilets and shower rooms. On entering the hostel each resident is assigned a Key Worker who is dedicated to supporting their client to tackle any issues they face in terms of achieving independent living and accommodation.
Currently the No Second Night Out project has funding in place until April 2016.
Liz Hancock said:
This money is hugely significant for us and will finance us for a crucial period during which we hope to secure further funding for the year,” said manager Liz Hancock.
We work with people the council don’t have a legal duty to help. We offer a bed for the night and support they can’t get anywhere else.
We work closely with the police and this award is important to us because it shows the contribution with make to helping people such as ex-offenders is getting the recognition we feel it deserves.
Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said:
I recently attended a public meeting in Harrogate called by North Yorkshire Police to discuss some concerns expressed by local residents and businesses.
At the meeting we heard about the excellent work done by the Harrogate Homeless Project, so I am delighted that they have secured this grant, which I am sure will be particularly welcome over the festive season.
Very often it’s all too easy to focus on the great things about Christmas, but for some people it can be a very difficult time of the year indeed. I am therefore very pleased to be able to support the No Second Night Out project.
If you would like to give a cash Christmas present to the Harrogate Homeless Project then please see their Just Giving page https://www.justgiving.com/hhp
Donations can also be in person at 7 Bower Street or they can be contacted on 01423 566900
