Brighton housing charity hosts reception to mark 45th anniversary

Brighton’s leading housing and homeless charity held a reception to mark its 45th anniversary last night (Wednesday 6 November).

Brighton Housing Trust (BHT) hosted the reception at its First Base Day Centre in Montpelier Road, Brighton.

The event included a fascinating brief history of homelessness including the story of how the Brighton Hostel became BHT.

It touched on events such as the closure of the Spike rehabilitation centre in Elm Grove more than 20 years ago. It was in the grounds of Brighton General Hospital which was once the workhouse.

And it charted the evolution of the Vagrancy Act and Poor Laws into the current set of rules around homelessness. It showed how and why charities still step in to help those who have slipped through the welfare net.

BHT chief executive Andy Winter thanked the Big Lottery Fund which is currently funding nine of the charity’s projects.

And he paid tribute to those who have worked for BHT and supported it since the Brighton Hostel first offered shelter in a single house in Islingword Road in 1968.

He also looked forward to the first tenants moving into converted shipping containers in a few weeks’ time – BHT’s latest innovation which has attracted attention from far beyond Brighton.

He said that seeing the gratitude of the 36 people being given a chance to have a home had been humbling and one of the proudest moments of his life.