A manager at a Dorset homelessness project has told BUzz that demand is higher than ever for its services.
Justine Uffindell, assistant manager at the Salvation Army-run Project BH1, was speaking in the wake of World Homeless Day.
More than 1,000 people in Bournemouth are homeless due to difficult life circumstances, lack of housing or mental health issues.
Project BH1, based in Boscombe, is open from Monday to Saturday providing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for the homeless in the area.
The project offers more than just food and shelter. It provides access to assistance with housing and money, showers and a warm place to stay.
On Wednesdays it holds an afternoon film session which allows people to come together, watch a film and discuss it.
Justine said: “The demand is higher than ever. We want to provide everyone with safety, warmth, and a cup of tea.
“It has been a noticeable increase in the number of visitors. People simply cannot afford housing. Bournemouth is extremely busy.”
One of the regular visitors, Stuart, added: “It has been a wonderful experience for me since I joined. We get fresh breakfast and tea all throughout the day. I feel rejected by people outside of here, but we are welcome here.”
The government’s focus has been on councils providing temporary accommodation, as evidenced by the recently published Homelessness Bill.
Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, a campaigning charity that deals with the issue, argued that government money is being poured into short-term accommodation instead of long term solutions that would benefit families, placing them into safe and secure homes.
Justine added: “Moving from a chaotic life on the streets to a chaotic life but with the roof overhead is not the way to solve the issues with homelessness.
“Our biggest hope is to have no homeless people in the streets, and I believe we are not alone in it, we are all part of a much bigger picture.”
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