Bath-based charity Julian House has launched an urgent appeal for help from the community to bridge the widening funding gap it’s experiencing due to the cost-of-living crisis.
Darren has been supported by the services available at Julian House | Photo © Julian House
The charity’s longest-running project, the emergency hostel based in Manvers Street, provides vital shelter and dedicated, person-centred support to some of the most vulnerable and excluded members of society, those experiencing homelessness.
The service, which is the gateway for people rough sleeping to get off the streets and into accommodation, has been particularly hit by huge cost increases.
The charity’s Fundraising and Marketing Manager, Cathy Adcock says that concerns six months ago have now become critical.
She said: “Costs have been rising for many years, but the crippling recent hikes are having an enormous impact.
“Since 2015 the energy costs for the hostel have soared by a whopping 151%, as have the daily repairs and maintenance costs. Providing food for the residents staying at the hostel have gone up by 58% in the same period and phone and broadband costs up by 84%.
“The salaries of our colleagues who are providing often live saving support at the hostel have gone up by 23%.
“At the same time there is a chronic shortage of affordable accommodation and rising rents, which means more people are forced on the streets.
“In addition, the funding we receive from BANES Council has been frozen for the last 12 years. We are really in the grips of a perfect storm.
“Despite these pressures, there has been no reduction in the services provided at the Manvers Street Hostel, in fact support has been enhanced, and Julian House is now funding the hostel from the charity’s reserves. Without further support the future of this much-needed service could be in jeopardy.
“We are hopeful that additional funding can be found so that this vital provision can continue to be provided to those who need it most, helping 100+ people experiencing rough sleeping a year to come in off the streets.”
Last year Julian House provided support to over 2,000 vulnerable individuals across the region.
This included over 60,000 bed nights across various supported housing projects, as well as workplace experience and training in its busy social enterprise bike workshops.
Its outreach teams also supported over 700 people sleeping rough on the streets; changing and saving lives.
You can donate to the Julian House appeal here.
