I was pleased to visit the YMCA’s Sleep Easy event in Brighton last week. With nearly a quarter of a million residents in the city and an estimated social housing provision of 10,000 homes we need to work very hard to prevent and improve the situation for those finding themselves homeless, of which a significant number are young people.
The YMCA has been providing a safe haven for young people in Sussex for many years -not just by providing temporary accommodation - but by offering help and support concerning access to services, supporting families and providing suitable accommodation to avert the breakdown of families and prevent young people from leaving home in the first place. The Big Sleep Easy is a great event to raise awareness and encourage people to support the great work the YMCA does.
When I got to the event everyone was busy making their night shelters from cardboard and there was certainly a lot of creative thought going into some of them! It meant I got a chance to warm my hands on the brazier Chair of Sussex Central YMCA Ian Chisnall (left) and Chief Executive of YMCA Sussex Central David Standing (centre) about the essential work they do in Brighton to support people who find themselves homeless.
I visited all of the temporary cardboard homes and spoke to their occupants. One woman was there with her two children who were exceptionally excited about spending the night under the stars, but she told me if it hadn't been for YMCA, they would have been doing it because they had to, rather than to raise money - she said to me, "YMCA saved my life, I don't know where I would have been without them.”
It's a sobering thought and I have huge admiration for everyone who stayed out on such a freezing cold night to raise over £3000 for YMCA.
Posted on February 8, 2010 in Housing, Out and About in Brighton.
