Brighton and Hove has a reputation as a safe space for all and many people come here seeking to live a life unhindered and as part of an all-embracing community.
The city also has a serious housing crisis with no drastic solutions in view for people who have lived here their whole lives or for those newly arrived.
Brighton & Hove has the second highest number of rough sleepers in the country after Westminster and many more people are vulnerably housed in insecure and unstable housing including emergency B&B’s, supported accommodation, backpacker hostels and sofa surfing.
Our young people are exchanging sex for accommodation. Our older people remain invisible and uncounted.
Are you uncomfortable with this and do you want to be part of the change?
How do we as a community support those who are rough sleeping and vulnerably housed and could we do more?
Go along and hear the voices of lived experience, explore what the key issues are and learn about current support frameworks.
Then the group will investigate together what the opportunities are to make things better by considering practical solutions and fantastical visions through small table guided discussion and whole group dialogue.
If you want to be part of creating a different world then your experience, knowledge, voice and commitment are needed to make this happen. Go and be a part of the solution!
If you have lived experience of rough sleeping and homelessness in Brighton and Hove and would like to talk about this or you would like to be part of the team delivering this event email: greg.headley@passage.org.uk
Greg Headley has worked in rough sleeping and homelessness for over 15 years and for the last five this has been in Brighton and Hove as the LGBT lead worker for the street outreach team. He is currently the Project Coordinator of The Brighton and Hove Charity Link Project, a newly commissioned service funded for two years who aim to build city-wide resilience and improved collaboration between the communities, established charities and the commissioned services as we work together towards ending rough sleeping.
The B Right On LGBT Community Festival celebrates LGBT History Month, is organised by the volunteers of the Brighton & Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and takes place at the Phil Starr Pavilion – a multi functional, fully accessible, heated performance, conference and community space with a licensed bar which is located on Victoria Gardens, Brighton, BN1 1WN.
Event: Outside Out: Rough Sleeping and Homelessness in the LGBT Community
Where: Phil Starr Pavilion, Victoria Gardens, Brighton
When: Sunday, February 18
Time: 10am – 1pm
Cost: Free
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