Funding will allow Chichester homeless charity to keep property for supported accommodation

Stonepillow had been leasing the home and using it as supported accommodation for those getting back on their feet – but the landlord wanted to sell.

Now, thanks to the charity’s own reserves and £100,000 from the council, Stonepillow hopes to buy the house before the end of the year, rather than having to move.

CEO Hilary Bartle said the home was in an ideal, safe location – particularly good for vulnerable women – and buying it would allow the three people currently living there to stay.

Mrs Bartle said: “We didn’t want to move it. It’s such a valuable property because of its location and the safety and secureness of it.

“It blends into the community and no one knows it’s there. It’s a family home, that’s how it looks. That’s why it’s so useful.”

The money for the grant will be taken from commuted sums – money from developers used to improve the area in which they build.

As well as helping Stonepillow, the council will give £100,000 to the Chichester Greyfriars Housing Association to help it build five one-bedroom flats in Royal Close.

The flats will be leased to people on low incomes, at a social rent of around £460 per month.

While Stonepillow’s workload has increased during the pandemic – the charity provides an average 130 meals each day to those in need – the team has managed to increase the help offered.

As well as buying the supported accommodation house, work is ongoing at The Lodge – part of the St Joseph’s hostel, in Hunston Road – to add a second storey of six self-contained units.

The Lodge is used to help people who are frail or who have mental health issues or whose issues mean they simply can’t live with other people. 

Mrs Bartle said the facility was always full, always over-subscribed and there was always have a waiting list – so the six units will be put to good use.

Part-funded by Homes England, the work has to be finished by March 31 – and she fully intends to see it done ‘even if I go out and push the wheelbarrow myself’.

Mrs Bartle thanked the Chichester community for all their help before and during the pandemic, calling them ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’.

The charity has just launched its Christmas Kindness campaign, selling wrapping paper, Christmas cards and gift cards.

It has also set up a JustGiving page to pay for food – and given the number of people helped, the shopping list is rather long.

As well as the 40 people housed in hostels in Chichester and Bognor, food parcels are delivered to 32 rough sleepers temporarily housed in self-catering accommodation and 53 people either vulnerably housed, sofa surfing or in supported accommodation.

To find out more, log on to stonepillow.org.uk