A Brief History of BHT

1968

Brighton Hostel, the forerunner of BHT, was set up in a single house in Islingword Road, registered as a charity providing shelter to single homeless people. Drinking was tolerated on the premises and the service was, in the main, used by men.

1970

Gradually attempts were made to regulate the finances of the hostel. A Committee was formed and the 1970/71 accounts were the first accounts to be officially produced by an auditor.

1971

A soup run was started in association with the Cyrenians.

1972

Brighton Hostel compiled a report on street homelessness, highlighting the need for more hostel accommodation and other day services. Campaigning and fund-raising led to increased awareness of homelessness in the town and eventually a standing conference on homelessness.

1976

Registration with the Housing Corporation was completed and BHT became a registered housing association. A successful funding application was made for a number of self-contained flats, originally designated for single mothers.

1977

The hostel moved to new premises at Dorset Gardens and Brighton Hostel changed its name to Brighton Housing Trust. There were 2 wardens providing 24 hour lone cover on alternating 3 and 4 day shifts and 9 residents. BHT also employed its first fieldworker to organise the soup run and to provide support and advice to homeless people.

1980

The hostel in Dorset Gardens became the Dry House, BHT’s first addiction service (and probably the first such service in Brighton).

1981

The Housing Advice Centre was opened. It employed 2 advice workers in offices in Ditchling Rise.

1982

PACT handed over the management of First Base to BHT, a day centre for homeless and inadequately housed people. In this year too, BHT became a company limited by guarantee and appointed its first (part-time) Director, Matthew Bennett.

1983

BHT applied to the Manpower Services Commission for consideration under their Community Programme project and duly received funding for 25 workers who were employed in various aspects of BHT’s work. There were 10 permanent staff members.

1984

The major area of expansion was in the provision of housing for single people, partly with the aim of providing move-on from the hostel which by now had become a dry house for men. The Day Centre moved to Montpelier Place. A full-time Director, Jenny Backwell, was appointed.

1985

General expansion of all areas of activity, including the creation of a new Hostels Co-ordinators post. BHT Charitable Trust was activated.

1986

BHT entered into a Union Recognition Agreement with NALGO (now UNISON) as the recognised union. The Central Administration and Housing Association teams moved from 10 Ditchling Rise to 70 Grand Parade. The Housing Association was commissioned to develop its first “new build” scheme in Evelyn Terrace. Before this, all Housing Association properties had been refurbishments.

1987

First Base Centre was damaged by fire in February and moved to temporary accommodation for 6 months while the Centre was completely refurbished. The Soup Run was handed over to volunteers from a number of churches.

1988

Opening of the Resettlement Project with money provided to purchase 3 houses as part of the Resettlement Unit Replacement Scheme. The new Housing Act changed the terms of tenancy for new BHT tenants to Assured Tenancies and gave BHT the responsibility for setting its own rent levels for these. There were now 28 members of staff.

1989

BHT was invited to open a care home for people being discharged from the St. Francis Psychiatric Hospital, which was being closed. The Portland Road project became home for 9 residents. The Hostels Project developed into the Recovery Project and the Dorset Gardens Mental Health Project, with 3 houses each.

1990

Opening of the Eastbourne Housing Aid Centre. The Deputy Director post was created and Solicitors were introduced at the Housing Advice Centre.

1991

Census figures showed Brighton as having the highest percentage of people sleeping rough in the country. The 9 Housing Advice Centre staff moved to new premises at 130A Western Road. Belle Vue Gardens, part of the Dorset Gardens Project, became a women only house.

1992

Official opening of the Sackville Gardens project as part of the Care in the Community Project. The multi-disciplinary Mental Health Project for Homeless People began with the appointment of an Approved Social Worker. BHT was chosen by the Mayor of Brighton as Charity of the Year. The Brighton Housing Partnership was established with BHT as an active founding partner. The first multi-landlord development under the Brighton Housing Partnership is completed. It includes flats owned and managed by BHT.

1993

The Health Authority built a treatment room in First Base Day Centre and a Nurse and GP began holding regular sessions there. By this year the Housing Association have 192 units of permanent accommodation. It also introduces floating support for particularly vulnerable BHT tenants by appointing its first Housing Support Worker. BHT moves to its new head offices at 144 London Road and the Resettlement Project and the Dorset Gardens Project staff move into 70 Grand Parade. There are now 66 members of staff.

1994

Expansion of the Sackville Gardens project as part of the Care in the Community Project. The 100th resident moved into the Resettlement Project and the Housing Advice and Legal Centre saw its 20,000th new client since opening in 1981. The 70 page guide “Solving Leasehold Disputes” was launched. An Outreach Support Worker (Substance Misuse) post was created in Eastbourne. The Eastbourne Housing Aid and Legal Centre moved into new premises in the Eastbourne Community Advice Centre. BHT’s largest development to date – 57 houses in Lynchett Close – is completed. All houses are built to the “Lifetime Homes” standard.

1995

Brighton Borough Council awarded Brighton HALC the contract for immigration/employment legal services. BHT gained approval as an Agency for Practice Learning from the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work and continued to offer social work practice placements in 4 of its projects.

1996

BHT reconvened the Standing Conference on Homelessness in Brighton, with over 300 people attending the first meeting. BHT received a Lottery Grant of £180,000 over 3 years for First Base. The Housing Support team started to provide housing support services to tenants from other housing associations.

1997

The Dorset Gardens Project changed its name to the Gateway Project. BHT purchased the building next to its 144 London Road office. It was refurbished and now houses the offices for MHP, the Resettlement Project team, the Housing Support and Housing Management teams and the Gateway Project. HALC moved to Community Base and for the first time has disabled access. The Government’s Rough Sleepers Initiative funded an Outreach Team and a Resettlement Team in Brighton and Hove managed by BHT in conjunction with English Churches Housing Group.

1998

BHT purchased the land at the rear of Ditchling Rise in order to develop 26 purpose-built units as part of the expanded Recovery Project. The Housing Association’s Housing Support Team (now 7 in number) appointed a Team Manager. In 1998 there were 102 permanent members of staff and 272 units of accommodation. BHT held its first staff conference.

1999

The Recovery Project expansion is completed. An Assertive Outreach Team is appointed.

2000

The Egremont Place Project becomes the Detox Support Project. BHT joins in an alliance with William Sutton Housing Association, and launches the Relocation Project helping people to move to vacant housing by William Sutton and others.

2001

BHT appoints five Housing Support Workers in HALC to work with people in the private sector. EHALC also appoints its first Housing Support Worker as part of Eastbourne Housing Plus. Midsommer Housing and Ujima join the Alliance. The Detox Support Project was runner-up in the Department of Health Social Care Awards.

2002

The Regency House Project is created providing supported accommodation for 58 men and women who would otherwise be homeless. 24-hour support and specialising in mental health, substance misuse issues, and providing support to ex-offenders. There were 110 staff in 2002. BHT put in supervision by the Housing Corporation for significant breaches of the Regulatory Code.

2003

Jenny Backwell retires as Director. Andy Winter is appointed as Chief Executive. The Route 1 project is opened providing supported accommodation to 37 men and women who are Mental Health Service users.

2004

Patricia Norman appointed Life President to recognise several decades of service to BHT and to disadvantaged people in Brighton. A BHT Tenant Board Member and a Board representative of service users recruited. Martin Heys was appointed as the new Chair of BHT. A mission statement was agreed as “To provide preventative and practical solutions to tackle homelessness and its causes.” Olympus House Project was created which provides a high standard of self-catering accommodation supporting 39 homeless men and women. BHT sees a substantial increase in staffing as a result of additional funding secured through Supporting People. The Route 1 project received a national Innovation Award from the Empty Homes Agency and the ODPM.

2005

BHT is runner-up of The Argus Achievement Award for Charity of the Year. BHT has 190 members of staff. BHT comes out of Housing Corporation supervision. BHT decides to join the William Sutton Group.

2006

Refurbishment of Phase 1 Project completed. BHT secures funding from the Learning and Skills Council and the European Social Fund to set up Learning Links, a work and learning project for men and women in insecure housing. BHT joins the William Sutton Group and William Sutton merges with the Affinity Homes Group to form Affinity Sutton, the second largest housing group in the country.BHT sells 57 homes to Downland Housing Association and leases a further 158 homes, thereby significantly improving its financial position. BHT Board revises the Mission to “combating homelessness, creating opportunities, promoting change”, and sets the objective of doubling in size by 2012.

2007

Gateway Project and Route 1 Project merge to provide 63-unit specialist mental health service. BHT moves from being a subsidiary of William Sutton Homes to become a subsidiary of Downland Housing Association.

Chairs of the BHT Board

1978 Matthew Bennett
1980 Peter Field
1984 David Blaker-Standing
1989 Dick Allen
1995 Bob Cristofili
1998 Patricia Norman
2001 Paul Dobson
2004 Martin Heys
2008 Patrick Allen (interim chair)