Worthing homeless charity facing 'unprecedented demand' as 50 people evicted from hotel

Turning Tides said it was dismayed by news that the Chatsworth Hotel, in The Steyne, would no longer be able to house around 50 homeless people due to changes in its insurance policy.

The venue had provided emergency accommodation for rough sleepers since March but, with the announcement that hotels can reopen from July 4, its insurance no longer covers housing homeless people.

According to Turning Tides, the Chatsworth and other partners had attempted to reverse the decision, but the hotel's insurers would not waiver.

The charity, together with Worthing Borough Council, has found accommodation for around 30 of the Chatsworth's residents, but 19 still face a return to the streets.

Food and sleeping bags are already being prepared in case accommodation cannot be found by the time they are forced to leave the hotel tomorrow (June 25).

A spokesman for Turning Tides said: "It is deeply concerning to find the people we support in this unexpected and unacceptable situation. We knew the hotel accommodation was due to end, but expected to have until the end of July to source alternative arrangements.

"We are already facing an unprecedented demand for our services, as increased numbers of people are presenting as homeless due to the wider implications of Covid-19. Our staff and services are stretched to the limit.

"We therefore ask for the support and kindness of the public as we help these homeless men and women through the days, weeks and months to come."

The charity supported claims made by Worthing Borough Council that Government funding to house homeless people during the pandemic had fallen short of what was required.

The council said it was forced to spend £20,000 a week of its own budget housing Worthing's homeless population.

Donate to Turning Tides' emergency appeal here www.turning-tides.org.uk. The charity has also asked anybody with a vacant property to get in touch.

"We are very grateful to both the hotel and Worthing Council for their efforts over the last few months, as we have pulled together to support some of our local community’s most vulnerable people," said the spokesman.

"When ‘Everyone In’ was announced, it brought the most extraordinary mobilisation of people and resources - these two small words marked a truly historic moment. Within a few weeks, 90% of the country’s rough sleepers were given an offer of temporary accommodation as local authorities worked hand in hand with the charity sector and hotels.

"Our own frontline keyworkers risked their health to search the streets and countryside for rough sleepers throughout West Sussex to bring them indoors. Our staff and volunteers will continue to do everything they can to support and protect homeless men and women throughout this ongoing public health emergency."

The leader of Worthing's Labour group, Beccy Cooper, said the news was 'appalling and very worrying'.

“At any time this situation is unacceptable, but with coronavirus still a very real threat, it is imperative that everyone has a roof over their head," she said.

"This dramatic turn of events has further highlighted the issue of a chronic lack of temporary accommodation that local authorities have been facing for many years.

"As the Conservative Government has stripped away funding from local authorities, our ability to assist people who find themselves homeless has been reduced to below the bare

minimum.

“I know the council frontline staff dealing with homeless people will be working very hard under great time pressure to find alternative places for all those who were accommodated at the Chatsworth.

“I hope our worst fears are not realised, and that none of them end up rough- sleeping again. This initiative to put a roof over everyone’s head was hailed as a one-off opportunity to end rough sleeping. We believe that this should still be our objective."