National guidelines confirm that dormitory accommodation such as St Josephs is outdated and single units provide a more effective environment in which vulnerable people will feel safer in their own space and engage more effectively. To recover and change their way of life rough sleepers need to be offered more housing options straight away as they come off the streets. There will always be an emergency access provision for people in crisis but our aspirations are that our staff team can identify need and provide a more effective support pathway from registration.

Way Forward
In the short term a provision of single room accommodation with 6 bed spaces to be allocated on a semi-permanent basis will be offered to clients who are willing and committed to make changes in their current way of life. The stable accommodation element should motivate the client to engage and will place them in a more secure position to begin addressing issues other than finding a safe place to sleep that night, such as substance misuse, mental health, life skills and work. The remaining available beds will continue to be allocated as emergency access.

Refurbishment Programme
The refurbishment is due to start in June and last for approximately 3 months. The cost has been estimated at £222,825 of which an award of £177,000 will come from the Government led Homeless Change Programme however the remaining funds will need to be sought through Trust Funds, Fund Raising and public donations. We are also improving one of our Chichester move-on premises with additional funding from Chichester District Council and joint working with their housing option department to house some of our clients once they are sustaining their abstinence and are able to integrate into our community.
 
Please note that whilst the refurbishment at St Josephs is being completed, alternative shelter/accommodation will be sought for our clients and our head office.