Lifeline charity for homeless appeals for help after closing doors on current home for final time
“Having been here since day one, I’m absolutely gutted and it’s a big concern about where the city’s homeless people are going to get this help”
A Sunderland charity which provides a vital “lifeline” to the city’s homeless people is appealing for help to keep the service going after having to leave their current base.
Basis Sunderland, which operates from Park Road Church, is part of Oasis Community Housing which supports rough sleepers or those facing homelessness through providing both immediate care and helping to get people back on their feet with support through addiction services and sourcing housing.
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Today (July 3), Basis opened its door to those in need for the final time from their current home, after a shortfall in funding and donations left them in a position where they had to serve notice on the property.
Despite some “positive news” in terms of new potential donations, a new charity has now taken on the lease at the church, leaving Basis trying to source a new property from which to operate their vital service.
Basis project lead Dave Cawley, 64, who helped to set up the service eight years ago, said: “We support 99% of the city’s rough sleepers and this service is a lifeline for the city’s homeless. We provide breakfast each day, a place for people to get a shower and wash their clothes, as well as a place to store their clean clothes. We also provide clothing to those who need it.
“We have nurse who comes in every Monday and Wednesday to provide medical care, including prescriptions and referring people to hospital for treatment if needed.
“We also have phones and computers for people to use, which are vital for arranging appointments with housing services, probation services, the courts, or DWP, without which people can lose benefits or breach their probation conditions.
“We are the glue which connects things together.”
Basis also provides support from the addiction service Wear Recovery as well as guidance for people to set up bank accounts and to access housing.
After potentially closing the doors on the project’s home for the final time, Dave said: “The people who come to us for support are asking me ‘Dave, what are we going to do?’, and at the moment I don’t have an answer.
“One girl was in tears. This is a lifeline to people and there’s now a void which needs to be filled.
“Having been here since day one, I’m absolutely gutted and it’s a big concern about where the city’s homeless people are going to get this help.”
One of the people supported by Basis who is now left in limbo is 48-year-old Mark Dagg who has been accessing the charity’s help after finding himself homeless three months ago.
Mark said: “Basis has been a very big help to me in providing food and a place to get clean. Thanks to their help, I now also have an adult social worker and on Tuesday (July 7) I have an interview with the Housing Association.
“I come here everyday, from Monday to Friday and without it, I’m not sure where I can go to get food and get clean. We need help to find and alternative, as without it, I’m not sure what I will do.”
After positive conversations about potential funding, Dave is still hopeful of maintaining the service in Sunderland, but in order to do so, the charity needs to find an new home in the city.
Dave said: “We still have a funding shortfall, but the offers of help means if we can find a suitable building, then I’m hopeful we can keep this service going.
“We just need a building which is suitable. It doesn’t need to be the finished article. The people in Sunderland call us the fourth emergency service, and the city’s homeless people desperately need us.”
Sarah Gorman, CEO of Oasis Community Housing, added: “Our Basis drop-in has been a lifeline for thousands of people experiencing homelessness since it opened 8 years ago, with dedicated staff providing trusted care and support for everyone who walks through the door.
“Those members of staff and the people we support are at the front of our thoughts.
“For months we’ve been exploring every funding avenue and building-option available to us, to try and find some way to save Sunderland’s drop-in. But, despite some positive conversations, we’ve not been able to secure the substantial funding nor a building to continue this specialist service.
“As a North-East based charity, we’re still fully committed to meeting the needs of people facing homelessness in Sunderland and appeal to any funder or landlord who may be able to help us find a solution as to how we can provide this much-needed service for the city moving forward.”
The drop in service operated Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm. In the 8 years Basis has been open it has helped 1,556 people.
Anyone who can support with funding and/or providing a suitable building are urged to call Oasis Community Housing on 01914773535 or emailing [email protected]