What We Do
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home – we’re making that a reality
Homelessness takes many forms and in West Sussex it’s not always visible. We work across towns, villages and rural areas, supporting people who might otherwise go unseen and helping them move towards a safer, more stable future. With over 20 accommodation projects, two community hubs and a wide range of specialist teams, we tailor our response to each individual’s situation whether they’re in danger or crisis, seeking recovery from addiction or needing supported accommodation.
Many of the people we support are living with complex needs such as poor mental health, addiction and trauma. Often they’ve found themselves on the margins of society – on the outside looking in – among the most socially excluded and at risk of harm. Our work to address rough sleeping involves helping people to access housing in a challenging market, one that doesn’t lend itself to those on the edges, while making sure they can access the support services they need. By combining these approaches, we provide practical, lasting support for those experiencing homelessness.
We work with single adults who have a local connection to West Sussex including marginalised groups such as Veterans, people released from prison, those who have lived in care and refugees in need. Homelessness is rarely a personal failing; it’s often the result of systemic ones. The people we support are not to be feared – they’re members of our community in need of understanding and practical help.
But we cannot do this alone. Lasting change depends on strong partnerships with local authorities, health and social care providers, community groups, businesses and volunteers. By harnessing the strengths, skills and resources of the whole sector, we’re building a coalition of the willing: working together to create opportunity and belonging for everyone in our community.
Our Services
Outreach
Our outreach teams are on the frontline – meeting people on the streets, in rural areas or temporary accommodation. They provide practical support; they help clients access housing, health and specialist services, and they build the trusting relationships that make it possible for people to engage with available support. Many of those we meet are living with poor mental health, trauma or addiction, and need consistent, compassionate help to start rebuilding their lives. Working closely with local partners and health services, our teams make sure no one is left behind, wherever they are in the county.
Community Hubs
Our hubs provide welcoming, non-judgmental spaces where clients can access breakfasts, showers, laundry facilities and Wifi. Staff and volunteers also offer guidance on housing, employment, finances and health. We run a variety of groups and activities, from art and music to cooking, helping clients build skills, confidence and social connections.
Our hub services aim to engage, motivate and inspire those who may have lost hope. Each hub operates as a one-stop shop, bringing together multiple agencies and expertise under one roof.
Accommodation and Housing
A safe, secure home can be the turning point in someone’s journey out of homelessness. We provide housing across West Sussex, with different levels of support to meet individual needs. Each project is staffed by teams experienced at helping people to address the issues that led to homelessness and to take positive steps forward.
But life in our accommodation is about more than just a roof overhead. Residents are supported to develop essential life skills, manage their health and wellbeing, build confidence and when the time is right prepare for independent living. Our goal is to make sure that when people move on from our services, they do so with the resilience, knowledge and networks they need for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Our approach
We know that homelessness is complex and that there’s no single path into or out of it. That’s why we work holistically, recognising each individual’s unique circumstances, strengths and goals. Our services are flexible, person-centred and trauma-informed, designed to meet people where they are. There’s a misconception that those who are homeless should be grateful for anything they’re given – we disagree, and so our approach is rooted in choice and agency.
By encouraging people to access the support they need, we increase their chances of sustaining accommodation and reduce the risk that they to homelessness. Our approach also prioritises health and digital inclusion, helping people access vital services, information and opportunities that can be difficult to reach if experiencing homelessness. We aim to create pathways for people, not cul-de-sacs.
Working with the wider system
By collaborating across local systems, we influence change and help deliver better outcomes for people experiencing homelessness:
Strengthening housing and homelessness services
Our frontline insight informs both local and national decision-making. We have significant representation at district-wide rough sleeper forums and contribute to county-level homelessness strategy groups.
Influencing policy and raising awareness
We bring the voice of lived experience to policy discussions. In 2023, staff and a volunteer joined a parliamentary roundtable with Felicity Buchan MP to highlight the rural homelessness crisis.
Protecting people at risk
We contribute to safeguarding and public protection processes, including Safeguarding Adults Boards, MARAC, MARM, MAPPA and domestic abuse forums.
MARAC: Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference. Focuses on high-risk cases of domestic abuse; agencies develop coordinated safety plans.
MARM: Multi-Agency Risk Management panels. Organisations assess and manage risks related to people with complex needs.
MAPPA: Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements. These manage the risks posed by certain offenders after release into the community.
Improving health and recovery pathways
We have a leadership presence in the Mental Health and Housing group, reflecting two key factors in homelessness. We also play an active role in county-wide partnerships on mental health, co-occurring conditions and substance use – including the West Sussex Drugs and Alcohol Partnership and related harm reduction and prevention networks.
“The day I moved into the Recovery Project, I fell to my knees. People won’t believe me. This is a guy that’s done some damage and blamed everyone for everything. I knew I had to somehow get this chip off of my shoulder that I’d been carrying for a long time. So I started to engage with the staff and with a 12 step fellowship. Everything I’ve lost, I gained tenfold since that day. I’ve been cradled by Turning Tides and the staff at the Recovery Project from the moment I walked in to the moment I left. I started to engage with a Turning Tides counsellor called Sam. She was brilliant. She got to the point, but really encouraged me.”