The charity YMCA is asking residents in Brighton to help support young homeless people in the city by becoming a RoomSponsor.
According to the charity, more than 1,000 young people are at risk of homelessness each week, yet rising food prices, energy bills and soaring rents are making the idea of secure housing 'inconceivable'.
YMCA Brighton is helping people overcome these issues by providing the housing and support they need.
RoomSponsor, YMCA’s flagship fundraising programme, supports more than 7,000 beds for people each night across Brighton and beyond.
Oliver is a young person from the South West of England who was forced to leave his private rented room and found himself having no option but to sleep in a tent on the edge of a local forest. Frightened and alone, he wondered if he would even survive to see his next birthday. With little money, Oliver often went hungry. He endured the situation for seven months.
"YMCA has been my lifeline. It's just so nice to get back to reality and be part of society again," says Oliver.
His journey is not an isolated one and highlights the need for donations to support the RoomSponsor programme.
Today, life looks very different for Oliver. He arrived at a local YMCA and was provided with a safe place to stay. With the help of donations from RoomSponsors, Oliver received the crucial support he needed to rebuild his confidence and reclaim his life.
He also joined a YMCA gardening group, discovering his passion for landscaping. Now, Oliver is employed as a landscape gardener, which is a testament to the transformative impact of RoomSponsor supporters.
Hélène Begg, Chief Executive of YMCA Brighton, said:
"We recognise the urgent need to support people who are grappling with the harsh realities of multiple crises in housing and the cost-of-living."
"RoomSponsor helps provide essential support systems and safe housing that empowers people to embark on a transformative journey towards a brighter future and independence.”
The charity has reported that with multiple economic crises facing many, donations to their RoomSponsor programme are needed now more than ever. The need to get individuals off the streets who are experiencing homelessness, like Oliver, continues to grow. YMCA Brighton strongly encourages those who can become RoomSponsors to do so and extend their support to people in need.
To find out more about YMCA RoomSponsor, please visit https://www.ymca.org.uk/brighton
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