No young person chooses to be homeless

The Clock Tower Sanctuary provide practical and emotional support for young people to move from crisis to stability.

We want a city where ALL young people have somewhere they call home. We are the only drop-in day centre in Brighton & Hove for 16-to-25 year olds who are experiencing homelessness.

The Clock Tower Sanctuary provide young people who are homeless in Brighton & Hove with a safe and supportive space to shape their own future.

For young people experiencing homelessness, Christmas can be very tough. While some will have access to emergency or supported accommodation, many will be facing the uncertainty of sofa surfing or even rough sleeping. For these young people in vulnerable situations, the drop-in centre is a safe place, somewhere to escape loneliness and isolation, where there are hot meals, showers and laundry facilities. There’s 121 advice on benefits, accommodation, budgeting and more.

Rose became homeless after moving to Brighton from the West Midlands. We can’t share all the details of her situation, but her mother was suffering with extremely poor mental health and living as a family had become untenable.

Rose had high hopes for her move to Brighton. A talented artist, she thought the city would be the perfect place to grow, learn and become independent. But the reality of our city’s housing crisis meant she soon found herself moving from place to place – sometimes

sofa-surfing, sometimes in emergency accommodation. She was even on the streets from time to time.

“I was labelled ‘intentionally homeless’ by the council, as if I’d chosen the events that led me here. Even family members told me I’d put myself in that position. But no one would ever choose that.”

At her lowest point, Rose needed company, support, hot food and a hot shower. In short, she needed hope. Instead she was made to feel shame for her situation. She was left feeling completely alone.

Rose’s experience of homelessness in Brighton was deeply traumatising. For eight long months, Rose endured this new reality. But when she first came to Clock Tower Sanctuary, she immediately embraced the support and companionship that was available to her.

“If you’ve become homeless through family breakdown or abusive relationships, you literally have no one. But this is a place you can go to and get support. You’re listened to and respected. It just feels like a safe space.”

Rose has thrived since we were able to support her out of crisis and towards stability. She engaged with our one-to-one support and made full use of the practical advice we could give her.

With your help, we can keep the doors to our drop-in centre open this December and beyond, and give another young person experiencing homelessness, like Rose, the emergency support they often desperately need. Just £27 could provide a sleeping bag for a young person sleeping rough. If you can help you can donate here:

https://www.thects.org.uk/winter/