South East of England

The South East region covers: Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent and Berkshire . Sarah Gorton is the regional manager but responsibility for the region is split as it is so large. Berkshire is covered by Caitriona Carney and Kent is covered by Gary Messenger . See contact details below.

We have more than 60 members in the South East including homelessness hostels, day centres and local authorities. Every year we ask our members and others in the homelessness sector to tell us what’s happening in their area. Our latest Survey of Needs and Provision told us that in the South East:

  • there are 23 fewer projects and 420 fewer bed spaces since 2011
  • only 14% of projects ever have empty beds
  • 42% of projects had decreased funding in 2011/12
  • the most common impact of funding cuts is decreased back office staff
  • the single biggest issue in the area is a lack of housing for individuals to move on to

If you work in homelessness, health, criminal justice, social services or employment services  you can contribute to current consultations to help influence policy.

No Second Night Out - South East

No Second Night Out (NSNO) is an initiative that works to get help quickly to those who are new to the streets, so they don’t have to spend a second night out. It is based on four main principles:

• No one should spend a second night out
• No one should arrive on the streets
• No one should live on the streets
• No one should return to the streets once they have been helped off

We are currently working to roll out the No Second Night Out initiative nationwide.

Oxford is leading the way in the South East, with services and the local authority working together to implement NSNO. If you see someone sleeping rough connect them to local services by calling Street Link on 0300 500 0914.

Events in the South East

The South East Homelessness Forum (SEHF) is a regional meeting that brings together local authorities and voluntary sector agencies, policy makers and practitioners to discuss relevant homelessness issues. We meet three times a year, meetings last around three hours and everyone is welcome.

 The next meeting is Thursday 26th September at Guildford Borough Council from 10am to 1pm  The agenda will be here  from mid July. If you would like to join the mailing list please contact Sarah Gorton.

Each meeting has updates on government policy, and from the NHF, and Homeless Link and Shelter.

The theme of the April meeting was Welfare reform and presentations were given on local welfare provision and proactive and practical responses to welfare changes from registered providers

 Below is information and presentations from our meetings in 2012 and 2013

April 2013

Introduction to National Practitioner Support Service

Update from Homeless Link

Local Welfare Reform

Proactive responses to welfare reform ( to be added)

 

APRIL 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

Find out more and contacts

Take a Step for the South East

Take a Step is the national campaign to end rough sleeping and homelessness.

According to the latest statistics there are more than 400 people sleeping rough in the South East.

Everyone can take steps, big or small, that can help end rough sleeping and homelessness in their community.

Lesley Dewhurst and Peter Sloman, Chief Executive of Oxford City Council are among those who have taken steps to end rough sleeping and homelessness in the South East. Why not join them and take your step?