Harsh Winter For those Vulnerably Housed?
The Bexhill and Rother Homeless Unity Group (HUG) warns that local people could be forced to disconnect from the national grid due to the high cost of prepay energy meters – and face a winter without heating or fuel.
HUG – based at St Barnabas Church on Sea Road – opens several times a week to provide help and support to homeless and vulnerably housed people across Rother.
HUG offers a range of services and support, including a hot cooked meal, a warm shower, a washing machine, signposting on to support services, and friendship. Guests also receive support for mental health and wellbeing and get practical strategies on how to manage everyday life.
Where possible, working with the local council and other agencies, HUG helps to move people into suitable, sustainable accommodation to keep them safe.
But the charity is now warning that their clients who, already unable to afford their prepay energy bills, may have no choice but to disconnect from the national grid. One of their clients has already done this.
As a result, HUG is making its first ever public appeal for funds and is asking local residents to spare any money they can to help those in need.
HUG is aiming to raise £2,000 from the appeal.
Prepay energy vouchers cost 89p per day on average (compared to 74p a day for those who can afford to pay
by direct debit). To support 17 of the most vulnerable HUG clients from October 2022 to February 2023 and, most importantly, keep them on the grid so that they benefit from government support with energy bills, would
cost £89 per day, or £449 per month: a total of £1,795. The additional £205 raised would pay for winter survival bags for rough sleepers.
Chair of HUG Pauline Goubert – who was presented with a civic award from Bexhill-on-Sea town council earlier this year for her services to homeless people – said: “Last year was a struggle for many of our guests and we are trying
to financially plan ahead for this winter. It is much more difficult to benefit from schemes set up to help if you do not have a billed meter. Couple this with the heating systems in many rented flats seemingly eating fuel and not producing much heat, and winter looks rather difficult.
“I know we are all feeling the cost-of-living crisis, with rising energy prices and increasing bills. But we ask you to think about those who are vulnerable in our towns – and throughout Rother. Even a £1 donation to HUG would help some of the town’s most at risk people through this winter.”
• To donate to HUG please use this link: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/homelessnessunitygroup
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