Eastbourne group launches huge homeless project

The Rotary Club is an international service organisation that brings together businesses and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service around the world.

Rotary Club of Eastbourne has just launched Homes for Homeless - an initiative aiming to provide four one-bed homes to reduce the number of people living on the streets of Eastbourne.

The target is to raise £400,000 which will allow the club to set up the accommodation.

Brian O’Neil, president of the Rotary Club of Eastbourne, said, “The service that will be provided by our Homes for Homeless project is desperately needed in the town - a need that is growing and has been further exacerbated by the pandemic.

“There is no doubt that this is an ambitious project but, we are confident, from our many decades of fundraising experience, that we will be able to get the town behind us to achieve the goal.”

The club said it is expecting it to take 18 months to raise the funds followed by another six months to do the work needed before the first tenants can move in.

Southdown Housing Association, a not-for-profit specialist provider of support and housing services to vulnerable people in Eastbourne, will work with the club as its delivery partner. The association has also agreed to match fund the club’s funds up to £400,000.

Neil Blanchard, CEO of Southdown Housing Association, said, “I’m delighted and proud that the Rotary Club of Eastbourne has selected Southdown to work with them on Home for Homeless project. This partnership provides a great opportunity for our two local organisations to pool resources and work with the local community to make a real and lasting difference.”

Ian Huke, chairman of Homes for Homeless project, said, “We are calling out for financial donations from charities, trusts, funds, grants and bequests, as well as individual donations from residents and businesses in kind or in cash.

“We hope Homes for Homeless will have a permanent positive impact on reducing homelessness in our town and will be a lasting legacy for the club and everyone that supports it.”

A number of fundraising events will go ahead in the future, including celebrations of the Eastbourne branch’s centenary anniversary next year.

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