Brighton & Hove area
Housing is a vital part of living well with HIV, yet many people living with HIV experience homelessness or housing insecurity at some point in their lives. Financial hardship, stigma, poor mental health, relationship breakdown, and other social challenges can all contribute to difficulties finding or maintaining stable accommodation.
We know that housing problems can have a significant impact on both physical and emotional wellbeing, which is why support is available. There are a number of organisations across Brighton & Hove that can help with housing, benefits, advocacy, and practical support. Our team can work with you to identify the services that best meet your needs and help you access the support available.
If you are currently experiencing homelessness, or are at risk of becoming homeless, it is important to speak to your team at the Lawson Unit. We may be able to provide a supporting clinical letter to assist with accessing emergency accommodation while your housing needs are being formally assessed.
Help if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Bartholomew House
Housing advice and assessment for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. Bartholomew House also provide advice to private sector tenants, landlords and leaseholders on rights and responsibilities, tenancies, disrepair, possession.
BRIGHTON AND HOVE CITY COUNCIL
Housing Options Team, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ
Telephone 01273 294400
Email [email protected]
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 9.30am to 4.30pm
Wednesday – 11am to 4.30pm
You can contact the housing options advice service directly by calling 01273 294 400, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
You can also contact the housing options team to arrange a face-to-face appointment.
If you visit the Housing Advice and Homelessness Help Desk without an appointment, they may not be able to see you on the same day. However, you will be able to make an appointment instead of waiting.
Help if you are sleeping rough
Streetlink
If you are currently sleeping rough, you can make an alert with StreetLink.
Your alert will be passed on to your local outreach team who will try to find you at the location you give us.
StreetLink is a platform that connects people rough sleeping in England and Wales to support provided by local authorities and charities. This includes anyone who is sleeping outside, preparing to bed down, or sleeping somewhere not designed for habitation, such as a car.
To create an alert, visit StreetLink or call 0300 500 0914
First Base Day Centre
First Base Day Centre provides essential facilities and Case Worker support to anyone rough sleeping in Brighton and Hove.
Home-cooked hot meals, showers, lockers and laundry facilities, A named Case Worker allocated to each client to support them to end homelessness. Accommodation referrals, reconnections support if you are out of your own local authority area. Health Clinics tailored to the needs of people experiencing homelessness including: General nursing, mental health, physiotherapy, optometry, dentistry, and liver scans.
St Stephen’s Hall, Montpelier Place, BN1 3BF
Telephone 01273 326844
Website: First Base Day Centre – BHT Sussex
Rough Sleeping sessions: We run two open access sessions each weekday morning from 9:00 – 10:30 and 11:00 – 12:30. No referral is required and anyone experiencing homelessness can come to these sessions for support and use of the facilities.
Antifreeze
Since 1998, Antifreeze has been a safe and warm space for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering practical support and providing tangible steps towards stability and hope.
Antifreeze can help with meal, hot drinks, clothing and sleeping bag. They also offer laundry services and shower facilities via their drop-in session.
Key workers can help support you with practical needs such as housing, finances and welfare.
Website: Antifreeze | Homeless Support in Brighton — Off The Fence
Call: 01273 774140
Visit: 37 Portland Road, Hove, BN3 5DQ
Help with food
St Anne’s Centre
Signposting, support and good food for homeless or isolated people.
St Anne’s Centre, 61 St James St, Brighton BN2 1PR
Telephone 01273 602824
Open Mon–Fri 9.30am–12.30pm
Breakfast (free) 9.30am–11.00am
Hot lunch (50p) at 12
Soup Run
Serving hot soup to anyone who needs it, seven days a week.
Peace Statue, Seafront 7pm–7.30pm
Kemptown (top of the lift to Concorde 2) 8pm–8.30pm
Lunch Positive
Lunch Positive is a local peer-led charity that supports people living with HIV through friendship, peer support, and community connection.
Services include weekly drop-ins, community lunches, a befriending scheme, wellbeing activities, food support, volunteering opportunities, and signposting to specialist services.
Fridays between 12 noon and 3pm, Dorset Gardens Methodist Church, Kemptown
Call 07846 464384 or visit Lunch Positive
The Community Fridge Network
Community fridges brings people together to share food, connect with others, learn new skills and prevent fresh food from going to waste.
Community fridges are open to everyone. ‘Bristol Estate Community Room’ and ‘Very Local Food Hubs’ are two Community Fridges in Brighton with groceries freely available. They also provide a ‘pay what you can’ Thursday lunch.
Bristol Estate Community Room
146a Allamanda, Donald Hall Road
Brighton, BN2 5DJ
Open 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Thursday.
Very Local Food Hubs
Brighton Table Tennis Centre, Moulsecoomb.
1 Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton. BN2 4PN
Open Friday and Saturday 12:30 – 14:30