Scottish charity to examine homelessness in Guernsey

Image source, EPA

Image caption, Work is under way to help set up a dedicated homeless charity in Guernsey
At a glance
  • A Scottish charity is to examine the homelessness issue in Guernsey
  • Homeless Network Scotland will produce a report based on its findings
  • There is no dedicated homelessness charity in Guernsey

A Guernsey charity has partnered with a Scottish organisation to help tackle homelessness.

The Guernsey Community Foundation said it was working with Homeless Network Scotland (HNS) with an aim to set up a Guernsey-based homelessness charity.

It comes after the foundation last year found a "significant and hidden homelessness problem" in Guernsey.

It found the number of people waiting for social housing had reached a 12-year high.

People are classified as "insecurely housed" if they live in hotels, emergency housing or have three separate addresses over the space of one year.

The foundation said HNS would be speaking to men and women who have experienced homelessness on the island.

It said the organisation would then produce a report based on the findings.

Jim Roberts, the foundation's chief executive, said there was a need for a homelessness charity based in Guernsey.

鈥淯nlike other jurisdictions, Guernsey does not have a charity that鈥檚 focused on providing support to the homeless," he said.

"Action for Children do a fantastic job helping young people, but if you鈥檙e over 25 and you鈥檙e sofa surfing, or sleeping rough, or living in substandard, unaffordable or temporary accommodation, you鈥檙e on your own.

"We know that many local charities offer some form of help to people in those situations, but it鈥檚 never their core function."