Seaview Project housing assistance in East Sussex

Assistance for housing problems, including referrals to deposit schemes and emergency rental assistance, is provided by Seaview Project to the vulnerable in East Sussex. The team from the charity work to help each family in St Leonards-on-Sea and other nearby districts find and keep a home. The organization will also offer clients other services, such as healthcare and applications to benefits.

Dozens of people turn to the organisation each week to address their housing challenge. They will receive everything from free advice to access to the charity’s Crisis Accommodation flats or hostels. The organisation also partners with other groups in East Sussex to help those that are threatened by homelessness, and staff can signpost individuals to services such as the council’s discretionary housing payment for rent arrears, bonds to help pay a rent deposit and other aid.

Much of the advice is from the housing team at the Seaview Project. The clients come from all different backgrounds, and include substance misusers with addictive behavior, people that do not have an income, ex-offenders from Hastings or those that lack living skills. Some people will be homeless, and the team will refer these individuals to a combination of bond guarantees or deposit schemes.

Housing Placement is a key service from Seaview. This is both for the homeless or people facing eviction from their current home. The team will conduct an assessment of the client and their personal situation. Then aid is provided, such as below.

• The charity may offer help with finding a new accommodation in East Sussex.
• Applications for a rent deposit scheme or housing benefits can be completed.
• There may be placement into crisis accommodation flats.

The individuals, including rough sleepers, that are placed into the temporary accommodations will be able to access other support services, such as food, job training, and healthcare check ups. All of this is provided so that the cause of the hardship is addressed and that the individual can continue to live locally.

The accommodations from Seaview are for short term needs only. The client will be given a one bedroom flat in either St Leonards-on-Sea or Hastings. Some people may have shared accommodations. The aim is to get the family or homeless individual off the streets and help them find a local tenancy.

Social workers from Seaview will also help the individual address their housing problem and resettle into new accommodations. So in order to get help and stay in a flat managed by Seaview, the client needs to agree to work towards a solution. They will explore job training and budgeting among other workshops. Then, as their financial situation improves, they will get help from local schemes in paying a rent deposit on a private rented sector flat.

The homeless as well as individuals on a low income are also provided hot meals and basic items. Hundreds of meals are served each month, and they may have rolls, teas, coffees, biscuits, juices, soups, and tinned meat. The individuals who eat a meal will also learn about other assistance available to place them into a new home.

Healthcare is provided to people from East Sussex and anyone that users their housing services. They partner with St John Ambulance on this programme. The client will meet with a podiatrist or a nurse to address their medical needs, including any mental health issues. The nurse will arrange for general support, advice, and other support. There are drop in clinics for the homeless or even people living in poverty.

For more information, call Seaview at 01424 717981. Or individuals can drop in at the main charity office, which has a post of Southwater Centre, Hatherley Road, St Leonards-on-Sea. The housing team can provide advice or referrals to services.