Deptford Broadway charity The 999 club receives £100,000 in Government funding

BY CALUM FRASER calum@slpmedia.co.uk

A charity which cares for the homeless has received more than £100,000 in Government funding, allowing it to extend its services.

The 999 Club in Deptford will open its homeless night shelter year-round from September, thanks to the £115,925 Government grant.

The charity, based in Deptford Broadway, provides shelter and support for the homeless in Lewisham.

Giselle, whose name has been changed to protect her identity, 46, was a guest at the night shelter in May this year, after being made homeless following illness.

During her time there, staff helped her apply for – and covered the cost of – a replacement birth certificate and a Citizen Card.

The charity also paid her travelling expenses, supported her job hunting and tried to find new accommodation for her.

She said: “It’s a good job that there are places like the 999 Club. “I was on the streets during the storms.

The weather was horrendous, the thunder very dangerous. “I feel more revived. If you feel you have a goal and are working towards something productive you feel better.

I don’t feel as exhausted as I did. Now I have things to apply for.”

The South London charity will be one of the beneficiaries of £275,000 given to Lewisham Council from the Government’s £30million Rough Sleeper Initiative to expand vital services for homeless people.

Councillor Paul Bell, cabinet member for housing, said: “No one should have to sleep rough but, sadly, it is a sight many of us see far too often.

We are committed to doing everything we can to tackle this. “The issues behind homelessness are complex and, for many, being housed is the start of rebuilding their lives.

“This funding is a welcome addition to our work in not only helping the homeless access accommodation but in providing specialist support to individuals so that the cycle of homelessness can be broken.”

This is the first time the 999 Club has received major Government funding for its work. The money will allow the organisation to open the night shelter every day from mid-September through until at least late-March 2019.

This will increase the club’s capacity by 50 per cent and an extra member of staff will be employed. The shelter currently provides 20 places and this will increase to 30.

Tim Fallon, 999 Club chief executive, said: “We are delighted that the 999 Club will be able to expand its night shelter to be able to provide a safe, warm place for more people sleeping rough locally.

“Homelessness does not just happen in the winter months – it is a year-round crisis. “With this grant, we can open every night from the autumn until at least next spring, enabling us to support more people to get back on their feet.”

The number of people seen by outreach workers as rough sleeping in Lewisham has increased by 270 per cent between 2011 and 2017, according to Greater London Authority figures. The 999 Club is also fundraising to open a summer shelter.

Staff say the club experiences higher demand for its night shelter outside of the winter months as there is more emergency accommodation available in London in the winter.

Raph, 50, who became homeless after his landlord increased his rent, said: “There’s more violence in the summer.

“People are drinking and wandering around after nights out. You might wake up and have people pissing on you.”

They are aiming to raise £20,000.

To donate, go to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/summershelter