A CHURCH leader has been named a “local hero” for helping homeless and vulnerable people in 2020. Sam Coates, church leader at St Peter’s Church in Brighton, has worked throughout the year to support service users through Brighton Housing Trust. Her work includes initiatives to deliver food hampers and furniture to the charity’s accommodation for people with mental health issues and complex needs. Sam, who is also the founder of the Safehaven Women’s Service, has been named a local hero by gardening centre chain Dobbies and the Teenage Cancer Trust. San Sehjal, who works at Brighton Housing Trust and nominated Sam, said: “She has always gone above and beyond to support vulnerable people in our city. All her acts of kindness have reminded our clients they are cared for and part of our community.”
BETWEEN eight and 12 people are becoming homeless in Brighton and Hove every week, The coronavirus crisis has led to further economic pressures on families which could lead to homelessness, including job losses and reduced incomes for those on furlough.
Brighton Housing Trust(BHT) says access to timely professional advice is crucial to preventing people from ending up on the streets. Last year the charity’s advice centres in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings prevented 927 households from becoming homeless. Andy Winter, chief executive of the Trust, said more and more people are ending up on the street each week. He said: “In these difficult times homelessness prevention and support services like ours are needed more than ever and we are determined to be there for local people in need this winter.