Homeless support charity shutting down after council axes funding

A CHARITY providing emergency shelter and support to homeless people is closing its doors after funding was axed by New Forest District Council.

New Forest Nightstop had warned its future was in doubt after an application for £22,500 for 2019/20 was refused by the ruling Conservative cabinet last month, as reported by the A&T.

After being rubber stamped at the latest full council meeting, the Ringwood-based organisation has now announced its closure after more than 16 years’ operation during which it has helped hundreds of vulnerable people, including extra support to turn their lives around.

It said in a statement: “Although New Forest Nightstop has received many generous donations these, on their own, are not sufficient to enable it to operate.

“In addition, recent applications to trusts and foundations have proved unsuccessful. Its board of trustees have therefore, with great regret, come to the decision that they have no option but to close it.”

The operation offers emergency shelter with approved hosts for homeless people in the district aged over 16. It is affiliated to national charity Nightstop UK, and is run by volunteer group Community First New Forest.

Nightstop service co-ordinator Jackie Lillywhite told the A&T last month that staff and trustees had been left “very upset” by the earlier cabinet decision.

Axing the financial support was first proposed by a group of district councillors assessing a range of funding applications.

When it was formally approved at a meeting of the full council, Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr David Harrison spoke of the “critical importance” of New Forest Nightstop.

He asked Cllr Diane Andrews, the cabinet member for community affairs, how NFDC would continue to support it.

Cllr Andrews said Nightstop had provided 48 nights to just eight people in 2017/18 which equated to about £312 a night – compared to £35 to put someone up in bed and breakfast.

She said: “This council has an ambitious new programme to acquire our own temporary accommodation which will be more suitable as cases become more complex and the numbers increase.

“We are developing a whole range of solutions to meet this need. The community grant process was very transparent and members were fully aware of this council’s homeless strategy.

“They felt that there were other deserving causes in areas and services that the council does not already provide, that would give a real benefit to the local community, which in turn would allow the council to focus its attention on the national problem of homelessness.”

Cllr Harrison, who after the meeting raised doubts about those figures, replied: “It’s one thing to have an ambitious programme, but it’s another thing to have a system for these homeless people now at this time. Isn’t it wrong to withdraw this support in advance?”

Cllr Andrews said: “Officers felt we are able to do this now. I do believe that £350 per night is not good use of our money.”

Nightstop runs teams in 33 locations across the UK and is supported by homeless charity Depaul UK. Most of its community schemes only help people aged 16-25 but the New Forest one is unique in that it assists anyone aged over 16.

New Forest Nightstop’s closure statement added: “This service would not have been possible without the incredible dedication and commitment of a team of outstanding and tireless volunteers, many of whom have happily opened their homes to help a vulnerable homeless person.

“The service has also received a vast amount of support from the communities of the New Forest, a major factor in enabling the service to continue up until now.”