Warning over homeless in Covid-19 crisis
A homeless charity faces "deeply troubling" times and has warned that the Covid-19 crisis has created "unprecedented demand" for its services.
Turning Tides, which supports 200 homeless people in West Sussex, says it is urgently asking for help as it faces a 50% drop in fundraising income due to lockdown.
The charity has supported homeless people across the county for the last 28 years, but chief executive John Holmstrom says: "We have never seen anything like the situation we are facing now and urgently need to ask for help.
"The picture we are facing as an organisation is deeply troubling."
The charity is asking the public to join a "campaign to keep homeless people in our community alive", and vital emergency donations are requested via the Turning Tides website www.turning-tides.org.uk.
Mr Holmstrom added: "We have 21 properties across the county supporting some 200 homeless people.
"Additionally, we are providing vital practical and emotional support to growing numbers of rough sleepers being housed in temporary accommodation to limit the spread of the virus.
"There is an unprecedented demand on our services and this will only increase in the weeks and months to come.
"Many of our courageous frontline staff are designated keyworkers and, like our colleagues in the NHS, they are under huge pressure and putting their own health on the line as they support some of the most vulnerable people in our community."
As many as 80% of the people supported by Turning Tides have mental health issues, and about half of their service users are aged over 50.
Even without the threat of a deadly virus, homeless people die on average 30 years sooner than the general population, the charity says.
Turning Tides is facing the dual challenge of significantly increased need for its services alongside the cancellation or postponement of all its community and fundraising events - a change that could result in as much as a 50% reduction in fundraising income.
Published: by Radio NewsHub