A SOUTHEND homeless charity has been boosted after receiving a £90,000 grant.

Harp is one of 133 charities to receive emergency funding from the Covid-19 Homelessness Response Fund provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The financial injection will help Harp to continue helping people who are rough sleeping, homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Jackie Bliss, Harp’s chief executive, is thankful for the emergency funding.

She said: “This funding is a huge help at this current time as we continue in our mission to help local people to escape or avoid homelessness.

“Although we’ve had to change the way we deliver services at Harp, we are still providing essential life-saving support, guidance, advice and housing to the local community.”

READ MORE

The fund, which is being distributed by the national homelessness membership organisation Homeless Link, was set up to support charities directly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and protect them from potential closure or service cuts which would threaten their ability to provide vital services.

The grant will go towards covering the staffing costs of the key workers in Harp’s frontline services.

Harp is supporting people by allowing them to stay in its 214 rooms and is part of a multi-agency team providing support and meals to those who were formerly rough sleeping and have been temporarily housed in B&Bs.

The charity also provides advice and guidance to local people who are homeless or at risk of losing their home via telephone and an online chat support service.

Ms Bliss added: “We are working closely with the council and other local agencies to ensure that as many as possible of the people who have been temporarily housed in B&Bs during the coronavirus pandemic do not end up back on the streets, while also doing what we can to help local people avoid ending up on the streets in the first place.

“This funding will help to ensure that we can continue this vital work.”

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, said: “Homelessness charities have continued to provide invaluable support to those who rely upon them, despite suffering a fall in income as a result of the current public health crisis.

“We are delighted to be able to provide emergency funding to help Harp continue its essential work through this pandemic and beyond.”