The chief executive of a support centre in Nottingham has spoken about the importance of its winter appeal amid a "crisis" for the charity. Emmanuel House, based on Goose Gate, is £100,000 short in terms of funding as it experiences rising demand.
Emmanuel House supports around 120 homeless people in the city. The charity was founded in 1976 and has more than 30 members of staff.
The charity’s main focus is to tackle homelessness, isolation and vulnerability. Staff said the charity had “definitely noticed the impact of the cost of living”.
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The chief executive of Emmanuel House, Denis Tully, has spoken to Nottinghamshire Live about the past year and how the charity has coped with supporting people during the cost-of-living crisis. Denis also spoke about the charity’s winter appeal which will run from November to February.
He said: “Our winter appeal is important and highlights the profile of the charity. We appeal for donations including financial donations and second hand clothes.
“The Government isn't funding our winter shelter this year which accommodates up to 27 people who would otherwise be sleeping rough. The main effect may well be at the end of the financial year - we are looking at whether our income meets our expenditure.”
Emmanuel House sees people homeless due to issues like relationship breakdowns, gambling and Section 21 - where landlords can evict tenants for no fault with eight weeks' notice. Denis added: “At the moment for this year, we have had to raise additional money to fund the winter shelter. We have had to raise around £150,000 for the shelter.
“At the moment, while we have got lots of support from trust funds, we are £100,000 short in terms of funding.” This year, the charity’s winter shelter is based at a University of Nottingham campus and is already full.
Denis said: “The winter shelter is very important in Nottingham. It’s a strategic offer to those who are homeless in the coldest and wettest months and who would otherwise be on the streets. In these shelters we have something called ‘wrap around care’ from a homeless health team.”
In April, Emmanuel House had 24 new registrations. In October, a further 49 people registered with the charity - an increase of more than 100 per cent.
The charity has also given staff a cost-of-living allowance not originally in its budget. This was an extra £20,000 the charity had to expense as well as seeing an increase in food.
Denis continued: “Since the beginning of the pandemic, every year has been a year of uncertainty, and it’s been difficult to plan as everything has changed. Coming out of Covid, we thought we would have normality but the cost of living has really changed the landscape.
“We’ve lived through another year of uncertainty and it’s been disturbing for everyone and we’re all wondering what will happen next. Going back to the budget, service users had a delayed reaction then suddenly it hit. It is a crisis - we’re at full capacity and there is a waiting list."
Denis spoke about the best way to support Emmanuel House. He said: “One of the best things people can do is to follow us on social media and share the work that we do. The more people that know about us, the better and it doesn't cost anybody anything. If people have second hand clothes, we need those.
“If people would like a way of giving money to Emmanuel House without it coming out of their own pocket, they can volunteer at the charity shop even for a couple hours. The charity shop can bring in anywhere between £100 and £300 each day and that money goes directly to the charity.”
Lilian Greenwood, Labour MP for Nottingham South, said: “I am concerned to hear that Emmanuel House, a vital charity that helps those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in our city, is facing a shortfall in its funding amidst a massive increase in demand for its services during the cost-of-living crisis.
"Emmanuel House receives no Government funding and relies solely upon generous donations from the public, which are more important than ever. Homelessness and rough sleeping should not be inevitable in our country, yet the number of people sleeping rough in the UK is up by 52 per cent compared to 2010."
She added: "The rise in homelessness is a direct result of a decade of Tory failure on housing which has seen a steep drop in investment for new affordable homes; unfair caps on housing benefit and soaring rents and insecurity in the private rented sector. I have long supported calls for more rights and better protections for renters, including the abolition of Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, and proper investment in our homelessness services by the Government.”
For more information on Emmanuel House, visit www.emmanuelhouse.org.uk.
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